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2001

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Facilitating The Process Of Knowledge Construction Among Preservice Teachers Through Computer -Mediated Communications, Jennifer Ann Peterson-Lewinson Jan 2001

Facilitating The Process Of Knowledge Construction Among Preservice Teachers Through Computer -Mediated Communications, Jennifer Ann Peterson-Lewinson

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study was concerned with the potential for asynchronous computer-mediated communications (CMC) to facilitate the process of knowledge construction among preservice teachers. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, this study examined the extent to which the CMC among six groups of preservice teachers was influenced by (a) the structure and focus of CMC, and (b) the interactions among peers. Of particular interest was (a) how these factors influenced the depth in cognitive processing that was displayed throughout the course of the semester, and (b) the patterns of social dialogue and interactions that were involved with the displayed levels in …


Effects Of Social Skill Training For High -Functioning Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Barbara Jane Webb Jan 2001

Effects Of Social Skill Training For High -Functioning Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Barbara Jane Webb

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate the efficacy of using the SCORE Skills Strategy to teach high-functioning adolescents with autism spectrum disorder five social skills that are needed to work in cooperative groups. Ten male subjects ranging in age from 12 to 17, participated in a 10-week evening program. The subjects were in grades 6 through 11, and spent 17% to 100% of their school day in general education classes. The effects of the intervention were evaluated using a multiple-baseline across-skills and a multiple probe design. Data were collected to answer seven research questions related to subjects' abilities …


Description And Effects Of Teacher Motivation, Teacher Efficacy, And Sequential Behavior Practice In Physical Education Teacher Education (Pete), Hosung So Jan 2001

Description And Effects Of Teacher Motivation, Teacher Efficacy, And Sequential Behavior Practice In Physical Education Teacher Education (Pete), Hosung So

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Prior to this dissertation, a valid and reliable cognitive measurement instrument was not available in the physical education teacher education (PETE) literature to analyze and evaluate teacher motivation and teacher efficacy. The first important purpose of this dissertation was, therefore, to develop and validate two such instruments to measure teacher motivation (TMT-PE) and teacher efficacy (TES). This purpose was accomplished through the implementation of various statistical methods related to the testing of reliability and validity issues when involved in constructing cognitive measurement instruments. As a second purpose of this dissertation, correlation data among teacher motivation and teacher efficacy, and teacher …


Numerical And Experimental Investigation Of Deformation And Strength Properties Of Lithophysae -Rich Tuff And Analog Materials, Bahri Burcin Avar Jan 2001

Numerical And Experimental Investigation Of Deformation And Strength Properties Of Lithophysae -Rich Tuff And Analog Materials, Bahri Burcin Avar

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Portions of the high-level nuclear waste repository in Yucca Mountain will be located in lithophysae-rich tuff formations. Understanding the mechanical properties of the lithophysae-rich tuff, including deformation modulus, deformation ratio and compressive strength, is an important issue for design and the performance of the repository tunnels. These properties are expected to be significantly affected by lithophysal porosity; Two different research directions are implemented in this dissertation. First, uniaxial compression testing is simulated using finite difference technique on models containing circular holes in order to investigate the effect of porosity on deformation parameters. Numerical results are compared with biaxial test results …


Student Search And Seizure Since Tlo, Darryl Craig Wyatt Jan 2001

Student Search And Seizure Since Tlo, Darryl Craig Wyatt

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

When students in public schools are searched or seized by school officials for any reason, it can sometimes be a violation of the their Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Two United States Supreme Court decisions---New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325 (1985), and Vernonia v. Acton, 515 U.S. 646 (1995), have addressed student searches. T.L.O. dealt with the search of a student's purse after she was caught breaking a school rule, smoking in the bathroom. Vernonia established ground rules for dealing with drug-testing policies in the school environment. In both cases the Supreme Court …


Mentoring Toward Technology Use: Cooperating Teacher Practice In Preparing Student Teachers, Karen Jane Grove Jan 2001

Mentoring Toward Technology Use: Cooperating Teacher Practice In Preparing Student Teachers, Karen Jane Grove

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the practices of cooperating teachers as they prepared student teachers to integrate technology into teaching and learning activities. Descriptive statistics and qualitative methods were used in this study; Participants included 16 cooperating teachers from grades K--12 and seven of their student teachers. The cooperating teachers attended a series of monthly full-day workshops during the semester long project. The school district and the university jointly sponsored the workshops. Seven of the cooperating teachers and their student teachers were selected for case studies; Data sources included electronic transcripts from discussion forums, transcripts of workshop discussions among the cooperating teachers, …


Starbursts In The Uv Bright Interacting Galaxies Ngc 3395 And Ngc 3396, Mark Hancock Jan 2001

Starbursts In The Uv Bright Interacting Galaxies Ngc 3395 And Ngc 3396, Mark Hancock

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

We have obtained ultraviolet and visible wavelength images for the interacting galaxies, NGC 3395/6, using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) on Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The images show many isolated sources of ultraviolet emission which are young star forming regions with ages ≤8 x 107 years. Reddening of the star forming knots ranges from E(B--V) = 0.0 to E(B--V) = 0.3, indicating variable amounts of dust surrounding these regions. The full width at half maximum of most of the knots in both galaxies are ≤20 pc. The distribution of far ultraviolet (FUV) fluxes in the knots corresponds to ∼3 …


The Ecological Role Of Beavers (Castor Canadensis) In A Southwestern Desert Stream, Bryan James Harper Jan 2001

The Ecological Role Of Beavers (Castor Canadensis) In A Southwestern Desert Stream, Bryan James Harper

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The ecological impact of beavers on a stream in the southwestern United States was investigated to determine if beavers have impact on community and ecosystem level processes in a manner similar to what has been documented in more mesic regions. Specifically, my goals were to determine: (1) whether beaver pond densities differ in an arid Mojave Desert system from densities reported for those of more mesic regions, (2) what riparian plant species beaver are foraging on most frequently in this system, and (3) to determine if beaver ponds alter the system retention of nitrogen, a nutrient that often limits primary …


Questions And Conjectures About Multinomial Coefficients, Troy Richard Kessler Jan 2001

Questions And Conjectures About Multinomial Coefficients, Troy Richard Kessler

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to try to answer some of the questions in Dr. Bachman's paper "On Divisibility Properties of Certain Multinomial Coefficients". First we let {ai} be any sequence (finite or infinite) of positive integers such that i1ai ≤1 . It is clear that n!&sqbl0;na1 &sqbr0;!&sqbl0;na2&sqbr0; !&sqbl0;na3&sqbr0;!&ldots; is an integer because it is a multiple of a certain multinomial coefficient. We let fan=n! Ln&sqbl0;n a1&sqbr0;!&sqbl0;na 2&sqbr0;!&sqbl0;na3 &sqbr0;!&ldots; where L(n) = lcm(1, 2, 3, .., n). It is easy to show that fa(n) is integer-valued. In particular, we would like to study the sequence a1 = b1 = …


Muscle Performance During Slow Isokinetic Speeds, Jonathan Michael Kwantes Jan 2001

Muscle Performance During Slow Isokinetic Speeds, Jonathan Michael Kwantes

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism responsible for the decrease in force during the 5°/sec velocity compared to the isometric velocity. Subjects (n = 9) completed MVC knee extension exercises during eccentric speeds of 5, 10, and 15°/sec, as well as isometric contractions. Extensor force and average EMG (aEMG) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) were quantified at knee angles of 55° and 65°. Six ANOVA (alpha = 0.05) tests determined a decrease in FT (p < 0.05) at both knee angles and a decrease in VL aEMG (p < 0.05) at 55° during 5°/sec condition compared to the isometric condition. No change in BF aEMG was observed across speeds (p > 0.05). It was concluded that there is a controlling mechanism which is neurological in nature which …


The Fixture And Methodologies For Evaluating Vibration Characteristics Of Hand-Held Pneumatic Impact Tools, Jeffrey G Markle Jan 2001

The Fixture And Methodologies For Evaluating Vibration Characteristics Of Hand-Held Pneumatic Impact Tools, Jeffrey G Markle

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

A test fixture has been designed for the testing of hand held pneumatic impact tools. The test fixture was modeled after a one-degree of freedom mass-spring-damper system. The design of the test fixture allows for a broad range of testing scenarios intended to simulate the methods in which impact tools are used in industry. Sustained use and assembly operations performed by impact tools were simulated on the test fixture. Acceleration measurements at the impact tool's handle and on the test fixture's mass were recorded during the simulations. From the measurements made on the test fixture's mass, the acceleration levels at …


Peer Education And Its Effects On The Beliefs Of Rape Myths, Allison Marmer Jan 2001

Peer Education And Its Effects On The Beliefs Of Rape Myths, Allison Marmer

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Research has found that there is a relationship between men's acceptance of rape myths and violence against women (Malamuth, 1989). These stereotypical ideas about rape, rape victims, and rapists, perpetuate rape. Peer education may play a beneficial part in teaching students about rape, and is the primary focus of this study. The hypothesis of this study was that the rape myth prevention intervention would reduce the beliefs in myths about rape. The intervention, or informative lecture that was given to the experimental group was a derivative of material geared towards high school students. In summary, this research study succeeded to …


Anomaly Detection In Hyperspectral Signatures Using Automated Derivative Spectroscopy Methods, Srilatha Panchanathan Jan 2001

Anomaly Detection In Hyperspectral Signatures Using Automated Derivative Spectroscopy Methods, Srilatha Panchanathan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The goal of this research was to detect anomalies in remotely sensed Hyperspectral images using automated derivative based methods. A database of Hyperspectral signatures was used that had simulated additive Gaussian anomalies that modeled a weakly concentrated aerosol in several spectral bands. The automated pattern detection system was carried out in four steps. They were: (1) feature extraction, (2) feature reduction through linear discriminant analysis, (3) performance characterization through receiver operating characteristic curves, and (4) signature classification using nearest mean and maximum likelihood classifiers. The Hyperspectral database contained signatures with various anomaly concentrations ranging from weakly present to moderately present …


Deterrence And Urinalysis Of Probationers, James Pierre Perdue Jan 2001

Deterrence And Urinalysis Of Probationers, James Pierre Perdue

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Urinalysis of offenders under community supervision has become a standard procedure for probation offices in the United States. The District of Nevada reports proportionally half the rate of positive urine tests compared to the national average. The current research utilized a survey and field study of the offenders under federal supervision in the District of Nevada who were court ordered to submit to urine testing. The research addresses questions regarding deterrence and the accuracy of the urine testing program. Results indicate that there was little difference between groups of offenders who reported using drugs while in the testing program. A …


Parent Pathology And Family Environment As Correlates Of Child Separation Anxiety Disorder, Courtney Ryan Pursell Jan 2001

Parent Pathology And Family Environment As Correlates Of Child Separation Anxiety Disorder, Courtney Ryan Pursell

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Forty-four families whose children were tested for Separation Anxiety Disorder three years ago were again contacted for a follow-up study focusing on stability of the diagnosis over time and the associative characteristics of parent pathology and aspects of their family environment. Children were diagnosed with either no symptoms of separation anxiety, subclinical symptoms of separation anxiety (1 or 2 symptoms), or clinical Separation Anxiety Disorder (3 or more symptoms). Parent pathology focused on depression, obsessive/compulsive, phobic anxiety, and somatization. Family environment examined parental control and level of expression in the family. Current levels of parental pathology were found to be …


The Experience Of Successful Smoking Cessation: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Gail Ann Rattigan Jan 2001

The Experience Of Successful Smoking Cessation: A Phenomenological Inquiry, Gail Ann Rattigan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Cigarette smoking is a significant public health issue and despite efforts, prevalence of smoking has not decreased in accordance with national goals. This study utilized a phenomenological approach to describe women's experience of successful smoking cessation. Pender's Health Promotion Model (1996) and Prochaska and DiClementes' Transtheoretical Model of Change (1996) were utilized. Twelve women who had successfully quit smoking were interviewed; Data analysis yielded a core theme of transformation to non-smoker. Sub-themes included motivational factors of image conflict and cues for action. Other themes included barriers to cessation and coping mechanisms. Interpersonal factors and unconditional resolve were influential. Activity-related affect …


An Assessment Of Financial Ratios As Predictors Of Casino Stocks' Behavior, Flavia Godoy Razuk Jan 2001

An Assessment Of Financial Ratios As Predictors Of Casino Stocks' Behavior, Flavia Godoy Razuk

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to assess the effectiveness of financial ratios as predictors of casino stocks' performance. The financial ratios used in this study were EBITDA/sales, adjusted EBITDA/shares, asset turnover ratio, current ratio, and debt/equity ratio. A regression analysis tested the correlation between the percentage changes in the financial ratios and the percentage change in the E/P ratio. In addition, a regression analysis tested the correlation between the percentage changes in financial ratios and the percentage change in the market capitalization of the companies in the sample. The statistical test used was a multiple regression analysis; The findings …


The Effect Of Surface Compliance On The Cost And Benefit Of Performing Drop-Jumps, Michele Nicole Reid Jan 2001

The Effect Of Surface Compliance On The Cost And Benefit Of Performing Drop-Jumps, Michele Nicole Reid

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of surface compliance on the cost and benefit of performing drop jumps (DJ). The cost was quantified using peak ground reaction force (GRF) (FPEAK), time to peak GRF (TFPEAK) and loading rate (LR). The benefit was quantified using lower extremity stiffness (K) and amortization phase (AMORT). Ten female subjects performed five DJ trials each on a force plate (C1), turf surface (C2) and aerobics mat (C3). GRF and kinematic data were recorded concurrently at 1000 Hz and 200 Hz, respectively. Dependent variables were analyzed using a repeated measures ANOVA. FPEAK …


Motivations Of Elders Who Volunteer With Youth In Intergenerational Programs, Christine Alberta Stergios Jan 2001

Motivations Of Elders Who Volunteer With Youth In Intergenerational Programs, Christine Alberta Stergios

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Intergenerational programs have been found to benefit both the youths and elders who participate in them. Successful programs that serve youth are dependent on obtaining sufficient older adult volunteers. However, program directors report a shortage of older volunteers, despite various recruitment methods. Understanding the motivations of older adults who volunteer for intergenerational programs may help recruiters more effectively secure additional elderly volunteers, and provide optimal volunteer experiences. Qualitative methods were used to study nineteen elderly volunteers who provide service to youth programs or projects. Results found that these elders wanted to contribute to the lives of youth, feel connected to …


Self-Stabilizing Interval Routing Algorithm With Low Stretch Factor, Sripriya Sundaram Jan 2001

Self-Stabilizing Interval Routing Algorithm With Low Stretch Factor, Sripriya Sundaram

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

A compact routing scheme is a routing strategy which suggests routing tables that are space efficient compared to traditional all-pairs shortest path routing algorithms. An Interval Routing algorithm is a compact routing algorithm which uses a routing table at every node in which a set of destination addresses that use the same output port are grouped into intervals of consecutive addresses. Self-stabilization is a property by which a system is guaranteed to reach a legitimate state in a finite number of steps starting from any arbitrary state. A self-stabilizing Pivot Interval Routing (PIR) algorithm is proposed in this work. The …


Multi-Object Recognition And Retrieval Using Puma560 Robot, Bharatha R Viswanadha Jan 2001

Multi-Object Recognition And Retrieval Using Puma560 Robot, Bharatha R Viswanadha

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The objective of the research described here is to develop efficient algorithm and software tools for multiobject recognition and retrieval. This research project addresses two major issues: The first issue is the identification of features and efficient methods for feature extraction which can completely describe an object. These features can be acquired using visual and ultra-sonic sensors. The second issue is the development of efficient algorithms for the retrieval of multi-objects based on their features; The methods and algorithms developed in this research are verified on a Unimation PUMA 560 robot. Non contact sensors (a vision and a range sensor) …


"Holy Dwarves" And "Devil Babies": An Anthropological World-Survey Of Stigmatization Of The Disabled, Tommi Louise White Jan 2001

"Holy Dwarves" And "Devil Babies": An Anthropological World-Survey Of Stigmatization Of The Disabled, Tommi Louise White

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Disability exists as a human universal based upon conceptual categorizations. Positive and negative forms of stigmatization exist cross-culturally, and are examined in a world-survey format in terms of emic socio-cultural level, subsistence economy, and religion. I suggest that responses to disability are cultural specific, and that these individualized responses are filtered through cultural perceptions of reality and transformed into various treatment strategies of care, euthanasia, and abandonment, in addition to common discriminatory customs, such as limitations on marriage eligibility.


Image Interpolation And Denoising In Discrete Wavelet Transform Domain, Shaojie Wu Jan 2001

Image Interpolation And Denoising In Discrete Wavelet Transform Domain, Shaojie Wu

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Traditionally, processing a compressed image requires decompression first. Following the related manipulations, the processed image is compressed again for storage. To reduce the computational complexity and processing time, manipulating images in the transform domain, which is possible, is an efficient solution; The uniform wavelet thresholding is one of the most widely used methods for image denoising in the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) domain. This method, however, has the drawback of blurring the edges and the textures of an image after denoising. A new algorithm is proposed in this thesis for image denoising in the DWT domain with no blurring effect. …


Image Segmentation In The Wavelet Domain Using N-Cut Framework, Dongsheng Yao Jan 2001

Image Segmentation In The Wavelet Domain Using N-Cut Framework, Dongsheng Yao

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

We introduce a wavelet domain image segmentation algorithm based on Normalized Cut (NCut) framework in this thesis. By employing the NCut algorithm we solve the perceptual grouping problem of image segmentation which aims at the extraction of the global impression of an image. We capitalize on the reduced set of data to be processed and statistical features derived from the wavelet-transformed images to solve graph partitioning more efficiently than before. Five orientation histograms are computed to evaluate similarity/dissimilarity measure of local structure. We use properties of the wavelet transform filtering to capture edge information in vertical, horizontal and diagonal orientations. …


Oasis Deluxe, John M Ziebell Jan 2001

Oasis Deluxe, John M Ziebell

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This creative dissertation, submitted for partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing degree, is a novella-length work of fiction set in Las Vegas, Nevada. My aesthetic intent was to construct a contemporary story around an unobtrusive but directive narrative voice that privileges multiple perspectives while uniting them into a coherent whole, and I hope the spirit of that goal is recognizable in the final product; While this work is not cumulative in terns of content, it does represent a narrative and structural sensibility I have developed during my years of study at this …


A Self-Stabilizing Interval Routing Scheme In General Networks, Doina Bein Jan 2001

A Self-Stabilizing Interval Routing Scheme In General Networks, Doina Bein

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The Pivot Interval Routing (PIR) scheme [EGP98] divides the nodes in the network into pivots and clients of the pivots. A pivot acts as a center for the partition of the network formed by its clients. Each node can send messages directly only to a small subset of vertices in its nearby vicinity or to the pivots; An algorithm is called self-stabilizing [Dij74] if, starting from an arbitrary initial state, it is guaranteed to reach a correct state in finite time and with no exterior help. In this thesis, we present a self-stabilizing PIR algorithm. The algorithm starts with no …


The Relationship Between Employee Turnover And Customer Service Quality In Casino Restaurants, Karl D Brandmeir Jan 2001

The Relationship Between Employee Turnover And Customer Service Quality In Casino Restaurants, Karl D Brandmeir

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the relationship between employee turnover and perceived service quality in casino restaurants. The restaurants were buffets, steakhouses, and coffee shops in casinos in three geographic locations. The study uses both cross-sectional and time-series data in a linkage model. It then analyzes the nature of this relationship on both a concurrent and consecutive periods over ten months. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA with Scheffe Post-Hoc tests, Pearson's product moment correlations. Hypotheses were tested by correlations and time-lagged correlations; The results show that steakhouses have the lowest turnover and the lowest poor and failure ratings …


Transport Of Perchlorate In The Las Vegas Wash And Lake Mead, Manjula Roshan Boralessa Jan 2001

Transport Of Perchlorate In The Las Vegas Wash And Lake Mead, Manjula Roshan Boralessa

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates the fate of perchlorate in the Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead resulting from the long-term contamination by the manufacturing of rocket fuels in Henderson, Nevada. The changes in perchlorate concentrations for the Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead were investigated for the last 10 years by analyzing frozen water samples. An attempt was made to model the transport of perchlorate along the Wash, and to observe the transport and mixing of perchlorate within the Lake. Statistical analyses were performed to observe seasonal variations in perchlorate levels within the epilimnion, metalimnion and hypolimnion layers of the Lake, …


Self-Stabilizing Binary Search Tree Maintenance Algorithm, Sylvain Ronan Brigant Jan 2001

Self-Stabilizing Binary Search Tree Maintenance Algorithm, Sylvain Ronan Brigant

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Binary search tree is one of the most studied data structures. The main application of the binary search tree is in implementing efficient search operations. A binary search tree is a special binary tree which satisfies the property that for every processor p in the binary tree, the values of all the keys in the left subtree of p are smaller than that of p, and the values of all the keys in the right subtree of p are larger than that of p; We present a self-stabilizing [Dij74] algorithm to maintain a binary search tree given a binary tree …


Construction Of A Random Signal With A Specific Psd And A Uniform Pdf, Venkatraghavan V Bringi Jan 2001

Construction Of A Random Signal With A Specific Psd And A Uniform Pdf, Venkatraghavan V Bringi

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The performance of a dynamic element matching (DEM) flash digital to analog converter (DAC) can be improved by controlling the DEM DAC's interconnection network with a random signal that has a specific power spectral density (PSD) and a uniform probability distribution function (PDF). Many algorithms exist for generating a random signal with a white PSD and a uniform PDF, but there exists only one algorithm for generating a random signal with a specific PSD and a particular PDF. For DEM DAC applications, the random signal must be generated at the speed of the DEM DAC. However, a real time implementation …