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2001

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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) …

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"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.

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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. …

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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. …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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, …

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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 …

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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 …

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A Comparison Of The Functional Efficacy Of Osteoarthritic Knee Joints Following Viscosupplementation Treatment, Stephanie Beasley Buford Jan 2001

A Comparison Of The Functional Efficacy Of Osteoarthritic Knee Joints Following Viscosupplementation Treatment, Stephanie Beasley Buford

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare two viscosupplementation products, Hyalgan and Synvisc, that may be used to treat osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Hyalgan and Synvisc, have both been studied extensively against NSAIDS and placebos and have both yielded significantly greater improvements in reducing the symptoms associated with OA. Forty-one patients diagnosed with OA of the knee volunteered to participate in this study. Each patient received the standard protocol of lateral injections with extended knee of 2 ml of either Hyalgan or Synvisc using a 20 gauge needle. Product efficacy and functional outcome were assessed using the Western …

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Human Capital In The Hospitality Industry: Its Components, Role And Importance In Achieving Corporate Goals, Deborah Canale Jan 2001

Human Capital In The Hospitality Industry: Its Components, Role And Importance In Achieving Corporate Goals, Deborah Canale

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Since "value in this economy is increasingly being driven by employees and their ideas, as opposed to hard assets" (Zimmerman, p. 32), I sought to obtain knowledge about the components, role, and importance of human capital in the hospitality industry. Data were collected by interviewing 19 hospitality human resources professionals. The findings revealed three main components of human capital: service-oriented employees, empowered employees, and committed employees. Specifically, respondents identified specific managerial activities and roles that influence the profitability of their companies and the three cornerstones of their companies' missions: (1) treat employees well; (2) provide extraordinary service; and (3) provide …

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Exploring Family Values, Jaime Lynn Carr Jan 2001

Exploring Family Values, Jaime Lynn Carr

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This exploratory study sought to develop an empirically based scale to measure family values (Family Values Scale), and to then begin to establish the validity of this instrument. This scale consists of two major subscales, Family Priority and Traditionality. Results indicate that these two subscales have acceptable internal consistency and temporal stability. Subject were students from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (N = 380). Scores on the Family Values Scale were compared to scales measuring social desirability, selfism, satisfaction with life, perceived stress, social support, and psychological symptomotology. Results indicated that the Family Priority subscale is significantly related to …

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Testing The Potential Of System Dynamics Models For Improving Public Participation In Resource Management, Sarah Williams Cloud Jan 2001

Testing The Potential Of System Dynamics Models For Improving Public Participation In Resource Management, Sarah Williams Cloud

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis describes and discusses research which proposes that a system dynamics based-workshop can promote meaningful public participation in the resource management decision making process. The research tested the effectiveness of a system dynamics computer model for: (1) improving communication about technical data and stakeholder views; (2) increasing learning and insight into resource management issues; and (3) enhancing public trust in the decision making process. Seven research workshops were conducted to test the effectiveness of the model-based workshop for facilitating public participation in the management of the Las Vegas, NV water system. Workshop analysis showed that the system dynamics-based approach …

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Jurors' Perceptions Of Child Witnesses With Disabilities, Darla Jean Cooper Jan 2001

Jurors' Perceptions Of Child Witnesses With Disabilities, Darla Jean Cooper

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Research has shown that children with disabilities are much more likely to be abused than their non-disabled peers. Moreover, it has been suggested that 50% of child victims of abuse possess a learning and/or emotional disability (NIH, 1999). Although legal professionals rely heavily on the victim to aid in the investigative and judicial process, studies have shown that jurors find children less credible witnesses than adults (Goodman & Bottoms, 1993). It has also been suggested that prosecutors are less likely to prosecute a case that involves a child with a disability (Perry & Wrightsman, 1991). The purpose of the present …

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Photofragmentation Of Carbonyl Sulfide (Ocs) Following Core-Shell Photoexcitation And Photoionization, Lan Thi Ngoc Dang Jan 2001

Photofragmentation Of Carbonyl Sulfide (Ocs) Following Core-Shell Photoexcitation And Photoionization, Lan Thi Ngoc Dang

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Mass spectroscopy is used to study the formation of cations and anions after photoexcitation and photoionization of OCS in the vicinity of the S 2p, C 1s and O 1s thresholds. Singly charged cations are produced predominantly at the pi* and Rydberg resonances while dications are major products of dissociative channels above the thresholds. At the S 2p threshold, broad Franck-Condon regions observed for Rydberg excited states manifests an apparent change in molecular bond lengths upon the excitation of S 2p electrons to Rydberg orbitals. Neutral dissociation of the pi*3/2, pi*1/2 and 4S 3/2 excited states is found to compete …

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Radiometric Evaluation Of The Prehistoric Mortuary Practices Of The Chinchorro Culture In Northern Chile, Matthew Ray Doubrava Jan 2001

Radiometric Evaluation Of The Prehistoric Mortuary Practices Of The Chinchorro Culture In Northern Chile, Matthew Ray Doubrava

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The Chinchorros were the aboriginal, pre-ceramic peoples of the northern Chilean and southern Peruvian coastline. The Chinchorro culture used four types of mummification techniques (red, black, natural and mud-coated). Each of these types may be distinct to the chronological time period in which it was used and, therefore, the typology would be used to define the Chinchorro chronology. Also, if the mummification styles are unique to a particular time period it would support the idea that this was an egalitarian group that did not recognize individual social rank in mortuary practices. To test these hypotheses 16 samples from 15 Chinchorro …

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Job Characteristics And Self-Efficacy As Predictors Of Organizational Commitment, Min Fang Jan 2001

Job Characteristics And Self-Efficacy As Predictors Of Organizational Commitment, Min Fang

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Employee turnover could be ameliorated by controlling the antecedents of organizational commitment. The purpose of this study is to examine how job characteristics (skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, self-efficacy and overall job characteristics) and self-efficacy may independently and interactively influence organizational commitment. Specifically, different combinations of job characteristics and self-efficacy are proposed to have different effects on organizational commitment. Data were collected from 177 hospitality employees at four hospitality companies. Predictive effects were found between job characteristics (overall and two of the dimensions) and organizational commitment. The hypothesized directional outcomes of the interaction of job characteristics and self-efficacy …

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Determination Of Static Contraction Times To Exhaustion For Given Percentages Of A 1 Rm In The Bench Press, Leg Press, And Pulldown Exercises, Jeremy C Fransen Jan 2001

Determination Of Static Contraction Times To Exhaustion For Given Percentages Of A 1 Rm In The Bench Press, Leg Press, And Pulldown Exercises, Jeremy C Fransen

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the time to exhaustion based on percentages of the 1 RM in the bench press, leg press, and pulldown exercises. Eleven healthy males, age 27.7 +/- 5.5 years, volunteered for the study to compare the strength differences between their maximum isotonic strength and isometric strength (a static contraction hold) in the pulldown, bench press, and leg press exercises. Five randomized static contractions sets were performed 5 cm below the lockout position in the bench press and leg press exercises. The static contraction position for the pulldown was when the forearm was at …

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Determinants Of The Earnings Gap Between Blacks And Whites: A Human Capital Approach, James Michael Goldenberg Jan 2001

Determinants Of The Earnings Gap Between Blacks And Whites: A Human Capital Approach, James Michael Goldenberg

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The persistence of wage differences between blacks and whites has provided economists a perplexing topic for debate. It has been proposed that this gap can be attributed in great part to a disparity in educational attainment between the two groups. This study looks specifically at whether a college degree diminishes the wage differential. The empirical findings suggest that although a higher level of education increases the average wage for both blacks and whites it does not diminish the wage differential between the two groups. The results also reveal the possibility that the wage gap is in part due to the …

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Electrical Characterization Of Plasma-Enhanced Cvd Silicon Nitride Dielectric On Copper, Amudha Regina Irudayam Jan 2001

Electrical Characterization Of Plasma-Enhanced Cvd Silicon Nitride Dielectric On Copper, Amudha Regina Irudayam

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

In this work, a novel metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor process is introduced and integrated in a Copper Interconnect technology, whose smallest feature size is 0.18mum process, which has good yield, reliability and repeatability. The MIM uses a one-photomask process and hence is termed as the Low-cost-integration (LCI) MIM. The LCI MIM uses copper as the bottom electrode, plasma enhanced silicon nitride as the dielectric, and Tantalum nitride as the top electrode. The target capacitance density is 1.5fF/mum2. The target leakage current is 1e-7A/cm2 at 3.3V at 125°C. The maximum operating voltages that the MIM is designed for is 5V. The voltage …

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Paleoindian Technological Provisioning In The Western Great Basin, Kelly Elizabeth Graf Jan 2001

Paleoindian Technological Provisioning In The Western Great Basin, Kelly Elizabeth Graf

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

North American archaeologists researching Paleoindian adaptations have suggested that Paleoindians, represented by Clovis, Folsom, and Plano traditions, were highly mobile foragers. By contrast, "Paleoarchaic" hunter-gatherers of the Great Basin are thought to have become increasingly sedentary through time, specially adapted and tethered to diverse lacustrine/marsh resources; My research project aims to understand human adaptation during the early Holocene through characterization of the lithic assemblages from two stemmed point sites in western Nevada, the Sadmat and Coleman sites. These sites are located in the Lahontan basin and possess data sets unique and compelling in addressing the research objectives proposed in this …

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Evaluation Of Factors Affecting The Performance Of Biological Phosphorus Removal In A Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cesar Rossas Mota Filho Jan 2001

Evaluation Of Factors Affecting The Performance Of Biological Phosphorus Removal In A Full-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cesar Rossas Mota Filho

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Parameters bearing on the performance of a full-scale 88-MGD enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system were examined. Samples were collected for a 10-month period in a basin and in a secondary clarifier of the plant. Samples were analyzed for nitrate, total and ortho-phosphorus, COD, acetic acid, polyhydroxybutyrate, glycogen, calcium, magnesium, potassium, ammonia, alkalinity, TSS, ORP, pH, and DO. Profiles of the aerobic and anaerobic zones, and secondary clarifier showed that the plant is operating as an actual EBPR system, with sporadic phosphorus excursions. Low BOD input to the system, high phosphorus from return streams of the sludge handling process, high …

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Assessing Learning Outcomes In College Introductory Economics Courses: A Case Study, John Richards Mundy Jan 2001

Assessing Learning Outcomes In College Introductory Economics Courses: A Case Study, John Richards Mundy

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Many issues affecting economic education remain unresolved within the profession. Much scholarly attention in recent years relates to the teaching of college introductory economics principles in courses. This thesis analyzes the learning outcomes of students taking introductory college economics principles courses. Little basic research has been performed on the assessment of how students actually learn the concepts of economics. This thesis takes a unique approach to the assessment of learning outcomes. Following a pre- and post-test survey, students were scored on the basis of both their economic attitude sophistication, and their knowledge of content. The results were regressed against a …

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Differentiating Educational Needs Of North American And Non-North American Tradeshow Exhibitors, Hyunsoo Park Jan 2001

Differentiating Educational Needs Of North American And Non-North American Tradeshow Exhibitors, Hyunsoo Park

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine what educational demands exhibitors have to ensure a successful trade show and how these demands are different among North American and Non-North American trade show exhibitors. In addition, the educational topics, the educational format, and the timing of education provided by show management for exhibitors, will be identified. The data collection method for this study was a structured, self-administered survey questionnaire; This study was also designed to measure the overall perceived importance score of educational information for North American and Non-North American exhibitors and compare different perceptions toward the information among the …

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Mock Juror Perceptions Of Juvenile Defendants In Adult Court, Jennifer Lynne Personius Jan 2001

Mock Juror Perceptions Of Juvenile Defendants In Adult Court, Jennifer Lynne Personius

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The focus of this study is on individual juror's perceptions of juveniles that have been remanded to the adult court system for trial. Jurors are expected to be harsher on juveniles tried in adult court than they would be on adults who committed the same crime. Participants recruited from students in UNLV's criminal justice classes were given a short vignette of a crime where the defendant's age and severity of the crime were manipulated. Participants were also given a short packet of personality questionnaires. Participants were asked to make verdict recommendations and sentence the offender when a guilty verdict was …

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The Effects Of Thymic Hormones On The Proliferation Of Human Myelogenous Leukemia Cells, Melissa Pompilius Jan 2001

The Effects Of Thymic Hormones On The Proliferation Of Human Myelogenous Leukemia Cells, Melissa Pompilius

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Thymosin fraction 5 (TF5), comprised of an array of small molecular weight peptides, partially purified from the adult bovine thymus gland, contains multiple biologically active humoral factors. TF5 influences T cell differentiation, lymphokine production and restores immune deficiencies in a variety of animal models in vitro and in vivo. Because TF5 generally enhances immune reactivity, we examined the effects of TF5 on the proliferation of HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Direct viable dye cell counting, the MTT reaction, and the clonogenic potential of HL-60 cells were used to determine cell proliferation. The potency and efficacy of TF5 for the inhibition …

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Alternative Perspectives Of Projectile Point Variability During The Levantine Neolithic, Doss F. Powell Jan 2001

Alternative Perspectives Of Projectile Point Variability During The Levantine Neolithic, Doss F. Powell

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Ghwair I, a Pre-Pottery Neolithic B community in southern Jordan, has an abundant projectile point assemblage that facilitates a thorough characterization and detailed techno-typological analysis of the projectile points recovered. It is concluded that current typologies tend to mask significant morphological aspects of the projectile points. To explore these aspects, other perspectives such as raw material selection and manufacture are considered; The low amounts of cortex, minimum retouch, and the frequency tertiary blades are shown to be reflections of a conscientious effort to secure fine quality chert for lithic production. The presence of the "miniature" points represents a deliberate effort …

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The Acute Effects Of Transdermal Testosterone Precursor Administration On Serum Steroid Hormone Levels In Females, Mark Anthony Rasmussen Jan 2001

The Acute Effects Of Transdermal Testosterone Precursor Administration On Serum Steroid Hormone Levels In Females, Mark Anthony Rasmussen

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Most governing sports authorities have banned the use of anabolic steroids as ergogenic aids. Recently, a transdermal testosterone precursor dietary supplement (AndrosteDERMRTM) has become available; athletes can apply the cream to their skin with the belief that it will increase serum testosterone levels, muscle mass, and strength. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of one milliliter of AndrosteDERMRTM) applied to the inner surface of the upper arm on the serum levels of androstenedione, and free and total testosterone in female subjects. Serum levels were measured before application and every 45 minutes thereafter for six hours. Serum …

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Variables That Affect The Amount Of The Consent That Clinical Research Subjects Read, Joanne Hembree Robinson Jan 2001

Variables That Affect The Amount Of The Consent That Clinical Research Subjects Read, Joanne Hembree Robinson

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Various codes, regulations and guidelines have been established that outline what information must be provided to human subjects to insure that their participation in clinical drug studies is informed as well as voluntary. Recently questions have been raised as to whether written consent forms guarantee participants are making autonomous, informed decisions. The purpose of this study was to determine how much of the consent research subjects read in relation to selected variables. Seventy-seven percent of the participants reported that they read the entire consent form, but results suggest that 30--40% may not understand the study they are in. A question …

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