Digital Commons Network^™

Differences In Television Use Between Adopted And Non-Adopted College-Aged Adults, Christopher Edward Yunker

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This thesis is an original study that examines the media usage between adoptive and non-adoptive college-aged adults United States. The beginning of this thesis will focus primarily on television's ability to get a message across to a huge audience in the shortest amount of time. It will state the hypotheses and examine the research questions being sought. Simultaneously, it will examine the effect the media has on our youth. Hypothetically, adopted children have been more susceptible to the messages delivered. It will be the intent to analyze and discuss this susceptibility further in this thesis; The survey asked the subjects …

The Effects Of Exercise On Homocysteine Levels In Men And Women, Tracey Michelle Zuehlsdorff

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

A recent coronary risk factor, and one believed to be and important biochemical marker of Coronary Heart Disease, is elevated levels of serum homocysteine (Boushley et al., 1995; Malinow et al., 1994; Malinow et al., 1999; Nygard et al., 1995; Stampfer et al., 1992). Serum homocysteine levels above 10 umol/L are considered elevated. There are several unalterable factors, which result in the elevation of homocysteine such as heredity, age, and gender. There are other factors that are alterable such as diet and possibly exercise. The purpose of the study was to determine if a 12-week daily progressive exercise program reduced …

Evaluating Relative Productivity And Efficiency Of Hospitality Properties Using Data Envelopment Analysis, Elena Igorevna Champaner

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The concept of productivity and efficiency is essential to any hospitality company as such companies usually face severe competition and operate in an ever-changing business environment. Purely financial measures of evaluating hospitality efficiency and productivity are not sufficient in the long-term. This study makes an attempt to evaluate the productivity and efficiency of hospitality operations using a nonparametric technique called Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). DEA is a special linear programming model for deriving the comparative efficiency of multiple-input multiple-output decision-making units. In many industries, the use of DEA helped properties identify millions of dollars of annual expense savings not identifiable …

Sampling Inner Experience In Individuals With Anxiety, Lessel Lyle Hutchins

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The current study examines the inner experience of five individuals who report symptoms of anxiety and three control individuals. Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) is the method that was used to examine inner (subjective) experience. Idiographic result chapters have been written for all eight of the participants involved in this study. These results include a description of an anxious participant who feels (emotionally) her way through life, another who is nearly always experiencing an acute awareness of sensory aspects of his environment or nothing at all, and another who solves problems through "rapid fire" reverse-order mental images. These results are followed …

Cost Management Preferences Of Small Restaurant Firms, Hessun (Amy) Kim

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to test cost management preferences of small restaurant firms. It attempts to identify whether managers of small restaurant firms behave differently depending on the level of conflict as noted by agency theory and expense preference theory; Data from 87 private small restaurant firms were used. Cost of doing business, size of staff and five accounting ratios (ROE, ROA, Profit Margin, Financial Leverage and Asset Utilization) were used as dependent variables. Three independent variables, type of management, family-owned factor and ownership percentage were used as the sources of variance. The results from the analysis of …

A Relational Post-Processing Approach For Forms Recognition, Zhenxing Mao

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is used to convert paper documents into electronic form. Unfortunately the technology is not perfect and the output can be erroneous. Conversion then is generally augmented by manual error detection and correction procedures which can be very costly; One approach to minimizing cost is to apply an OCR post processing system that will reduce the amount of manual correction required. The post processor takes advantage of knowledge associated with a particular project; In this thesis, we look into the feasibility of using integrity constraints to detect and correct errors in forms recognition. The general idea is …

Effects Of A Heat Acclimation Program On Physiologic And Psychological Responses To Work And Heat While Wearing Fire Ensemble, Dale Anthony Branks

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Heat acclimation program effects on rectal temperature and heart rate during walks in the heat wearing structural fire protective ensemble (FE) were examined. On six consecutive days, male subjects (N = 7) walked 30 minutes on a treadmill (46--53% V˙O2peak) within a 40 +/- 2°C, 20--22% r.h. environment, wearing FE. Rectal (Trec) mean skin (Tsk), and rectal-skin temperature gradient (T rec-Tsk), heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2), minute ventilation (VE), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), rating of thermal discomfort (RTD), sweat rate and Na+ and K+ were assessed daily. Significance (p < 0.05) was determined by one way repeated measures ANOVA. Average heart rate, and daily sweat Na+ and K+ concentrations were the only variables observed to decrease significantly during the six days. These changes however were small and represent a questionable practical benefit. Therefore, a six day heat acclimation program during summer months provides no benefit to work in the heat while wearing FE.

Names Project Aids Memorial Quilt: A Rhetorical Study Of The Transformation Of An Epidemic Through Social Movement, Daniel C Hinkley

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study looks at the Names Project: AIDS Memorial Quilt as a rhetorical artifact and centerpiece of the current AIDS movement. The methodology for this study is an ethnographic and auto-ethnographic design, utilizing interviews with four Quilt volunteers and staffers, including my observations as a person living with AIDS. This study looks at the Quilt using social movement, rhetorical, and dramatist theories to prove that the Quilt is the rhetorical centerpiece of the AIDS Movement. Social movement theories explain how the Quilt mobilized thousands of people to fight AIDS. Rhetorical theories explain how the Quilt transformed the belief that AIDS …

Hamstring/Quadriceps Strength Ratios: An Analysis And A Strength Training Study, Heather Jessica Lee

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study was performed to examine the hamstring:quadriceps (H:Q) ratios of female soccer athletes, and to test the effects of a six week strength training program on these ratios. Twelve NCAA Division I female soccer athletes volunteered for this study. Subjects completed two practice sessions, a pretest, six weeks of strength training, and a posttest. The isokinetic pre and posttesting was performed on a KIN-COMRTM dynamometer, with the trials in a set order (concentric 240, 180, 60°/s and eccentric 60, 180, 240°/s). Gravity correction was used on all trials. The H:Q strength ratio was examined conventionally (concentric hamstrings:concentric quadriceps) and …

Investigation Of Different Light Delivery Schemes In Photodynamic Therapy Of Human Glioma Spheroids, Robin Marie Rodenbush

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The response of human glioma spheroids to ALA-mediated photodynamic therapy subjected to various optical dose delivery schemes is investigated. In particular, the effects of fluence, fluence rate, light dose fractionation and long-term repeat PDT is considered. Improved PDT response was found for low fluence rate photodynamic treatments i.e. those at or below 25 mW cm-2 . Results are consistent with the self-sensitized singlet oxygen mediated photobleaching model of Georgakoudi et al (Georgakoudi, 1998., in which the response is attributed to the deposition of singlet oxygen to a larger volume, i.e., deeper into the spheroid. The efficacy of high-fluence rate PDT …

Nonpoint Source Pollution During Dry And Wet Weather Flows In An Urbanized Watershed, Uma Malik

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This research evaluates the quality of urban runoff, from various nonpoint sources during dry weather flows (DWF) and wet weather flows (WWF) in the Las Vegas Valley. Standard constituents in urban runoff were measured to assess the quality of urban runoff, to identify the possible sources of DWF (groundwater flows, excessive irrigation and car washing) and to determine the quality of runoff from residential areas and parking lots during WWF. DWF samples were collected from storm channels on a weekly and monthly basis. WWF samples were collected when the precipitation was at least 1mm. DWF water quality results indicated that …

Dose Coefficients For Radionuclides Produced In A Spallation Neutron Source, John Patrick Shanahan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Internal and external dose coefficient values have been calculated for 14 anthropogenic radionuclides which are not currently presented in Federal Guidance Reports No. 11, 12, and 13 or Publications 68 and 72 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Internal dose coefficient values are reported for inhalation and ingestion of 1 mum and 5 mum particulates along with the f1 values and absorption types for the adult worker. Internal dose coefficient values are also reported for inhalation and ingestion of 1 mum particulates as well as the f 1 values and absorption types for members of the public. Additionally, external …

Labor Violations And Discrimination In The Clark County Outcall Entertainment Industry, Candice Michelle Seppa Arroyo

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Researchers who insist that sexual exploitation is intrinsic to sex work have deflected attention from two key issues facing sex workers: labor violations and prejudice. The purpose of this study is to investigate unethical labor practices and institutional sexism, racism, and classism in the Clark County outcall entertainment ("escort") industry. To analyze these issues from a sex radical feminist perspective, I spent 820 hours engaged in covert participant observation while working as an appointment setter at two major outcall entertainment agencies in Clark County; Much of the abuse that outcall entertainers in Las Vegas encounter could be eliminated by enforcing …

Fecundity Of Larrea Tridentata And Ambrosia Dumosa Across A Spatially Heterogeneous Mojave Desert Landscape, Nicole Sikula

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Seed dynamics of Larrea tridentata and Ambrosia dumosa were measured for two consecutive years (2000--2001) in microhabitats under adult Larrea, under adult Ambrosia, under non-Larrea/Ambrosia shrubs, in barren open areas, and in open areas with >50% microphytic crust cover. Microhabitat measurements were replicated at four large-scale sites that differed in elevation and canyon. Both species produced equivalent numbers of seeds per shrub when both years were considered. Ambrosia had significantly more seeds in the soil seed bank than Larrea at two of the four large-scale sites. Microsite effects on the seed dispersal and subsequent distribution of these species were not …

Identification Of High "Risk" Pedestrian Locations, Vinod Vasudevan

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

In order to identify appropriate countermeasures to improve pedestrian safety, it is necessary to identify those locations which pose high risks. The objective of this thesis is to develop criteria to identify high "risk" locations for pedestrian safety on roadway networks. These high "risk" locations were identified based on analyses of crash data. The crash locations were ranked based on several factors such as crash severity, age group, characteristics of pedestrians involved in crashes, and indicators of traffic and pedestrian exposure. Criteria were developed such that different weights were given for age groups of pedestrians involved in the crashes, and …

An Exploration Of Attributional Style Using The Descriptive Experience Sampling Method, Nicole A Cavenagh

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the association between cognitive style and depression. Phase I: 195 participants completed questionnaires that assessed cognitive style and psychological distress. Among these participants the expected relationships were found between depression, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, attributional style, and rumination; Phase II: Six participants selected based on their attributional style engaged in Descriptive Experience Sampling, which entails wearing a small device that will beep at random intervals, recording their awareness at the sound of the beep, and being interviewed within twenty-four hours of doing so. The inner experiences revealed by DES did not generally show the patterns suggested by current …

Qualitative Scoring Procedures For The Detection Of Malingering Using The Wechsler Memory Scale - Third Edition, Joshua E Caron

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Individuals undergoing neuropsychological evaluation are often involved in litigation for compensation. Consequently, much incentive to perform poorly on neuropsychological assessments exists. Thus, sophisticated detection methods are desirable. One promising approach may be to utilize qualitative scoring that provides information regarding the test taking strategy. Many current methods use a single quantitative score to discriminate people who malinger cognitive deficits, which may overlook sensitive information and be less accurate. This study developed and applied qualitative scoring procedures for the WMS-III and evaluated them using four experimental groups: sophisticated malingerer, naive malingerer, normal control, and brain damage. Results were mixed. When added …

Converging Behaviorist And Constructivist Theories In Classroom Settings, Lisa M Freitas

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Educators attempts to meet the needs of all students become more difficult as school districts are forced to reduce spending which may result in increased class sizes, elimination of second language and enrichment programs, and a reduction in school personnel at school sites. With these budget cuts the demands placed on educators will be even greater. Teachers will be forced to implement new strategies to ensure that no child is left behind. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of converging behaviorist and constructvist theories into classroom management and instructional practices. Three groups of students were randomly …

What's Swimming In My Glass? The Debate Over The Southern Nevada Water Authority's Use Of The Return Flow Credit Policy, Patrick L Ferguson

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Currently the Southern Nevada Water Authority uses an existing federal policy of return flow credits to divert water from Lake Mead above the annual allocation authorized by the Colorado River System Water Use Agreement. Credits obtained by the return of treated effluent allow water officials to divert as much Colorado River water as is needed to sustain current growth and development here in southern Nevada. Some in the community believe that this is a prudent use of a valuable resource; others that it is a means to justify the over-consumption of water and is altering the watershed in potentially harmful …

The Creation Of A National Information Policy Combating Cyber Terrorism, Daniel A Nick

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The infrastructures of the United States are dependent upon computers. This creates a new threat to the national security of the United States in the form of cyber terrorism; Cyber terrorism is the new type of warfare. It can take a cyber terrorist seconds to break into a computer network, download information, and leave without a trace. There needs to be a comprehensive policy to combat the cyber terrorism threat; The National Information Policy is a set of ideas brought together to combat the threat of a cyber terrorist attack against the infrastructures of the United States. These ideas include: …

The Desire For Socio-Cultural Similarity In A Mate, Nelse M Ostlund

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Various socio-cultural domains were investigated for the influence they may have on mating decisions. 102 male and 114 female university students were presented "potential dates" from a mock Internet dating service. Potential dates were described in terms of their ethnicity, music interest, education, leisure interest, occupation, religious affiliation, political affiliation, language, socio-economic status, and style of dress. Potential dates' socio-cultural traits were determined randomly according to a computer program. For each of these domains, information was gathered regarding the level of similarity between participant and potential date. After reviewing all traits, participants rated the potential date in terms of how …

Welfare Reform: Politics, Policy And The Courts, Paul Marion Loomis

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Welfare Reform: Politics, Policy and The Courts is a detailed analysis of welfare reform as directed by Congress in the Personal Responsibility Act of 1996. The thesis entails the following: an analysis of the historical factors that have led to legislative reform of the US welfare policy; an examination of the requirements the Act has placed on the states and the states' efforts to meet those requirements; issues of legitimacy that surround welfare reform, as well as US Supreme Court decisions that have helped shape welfare policy. Finally, an assessment of the direction of future welfare reform.

Spectral Analysis Of Hybrid Bermudagrass Placed Under Various Combinations Of Nitrogen And Water Availability, Malika Baghzouz

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Remote sensing technology that uses a movable ground-based system has promise for rapid, accurate and objective evaluation of turfgrass quality for instantaneous nitrogen and water application correction. Such a test has been made on hybrid bermudagrass 'Tifway' [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] through a 2-year field study at the Center for Urban Water Conservation in the city of North Las Vegas. Ten combinations of water and nitrogen treatments including cyclic and steady conditions were imposed on twenty experimental plots, with two replications per treatment. Treatments consisted of five N treatments: High Steady Nitrogen (HSN), Low Steady …

Measurement Of Inorganic Arsenic And Chromium Species In Southern Nevada Groundwater Using Ion Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Julie A Bertoia

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Two analytical methods employing an ion chromatograph-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer were used to separate inorganic arsenite from arsenate and trivalent from hexavalent chromium in southern Nevada groundwater. Method detection limits were found to be 0.011 ppb and 0.005 ppb for arsenite and arsenate respectively, and 0.015 ppb and 0.02 ppb for trivalent and hexavalent chromium respectively. Following an investigation of the stability of the oxidation states of arsenic and chromium in aqueous solution with time, the following procedures were adopted. Samples collected in the field for arsenic were filtered, stored at 4°C, and analyzed within 7 days; and those …

Power, Legitimation, And Drawing Distinctions: Rendering Of 'Public' And 'Private' In United States Domestic Violence Policymaking, Christina R Drum

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Contested claims about the public/private distinction have always been central to liberal democratic principles, to feminist ideologies, and (more narrowly) to domestic violence policymaKing Historically, treatment of domestic violence as a phenomenon that is relegated to the so-called 'private sphere' has served as justification for limiting such public policy remedies as prevention, intervention and recovery initiatives; From the grassroots battered women's movements of the 1970s to the current network of shelters, community agencies and advocacy groups, the last several decades have seen significant progress toward increasing public and political awareness of domestic violence. In the United States, many of these …

The Effects Of Environmentally Relevant Doses Of Perchlorate (Clo(4)(-)) On Rana Pipiens Metamorphosis And Development, Andrea N Golli

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Perchlorate not only blocks the body's ability to incorporate iodine into T3 and T4 hormones through the sodium iodine symporter system, but also depletes the thyroid glands' internal stores of iodine. Many of the steps that regulate metamorphosis in amphibians are also triggered by thyroid hormones therefore we investigated the ability of perchlorate to interfere with the development and metamorphosis of Rana pipiens . Aquaria containing concentrations of 40 ppb, 400 ppb, and 4000 ppb perchlorate with a 0 ppb perchlorate control as well as a magnesium control (since magnesium perchlorate was used) to evaluate the growth and development of …

The Psychological Impact Of Carrier Status In Hereditary Disorders, Jane Elizabeth Karwoski

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Previous studies have indicated that carrier status has little effect on self-concept. However, rather than examine autosomal recessive illnesses, wherein genetic responsibility is shared by both parents, the present study samples women at risk of being sole carriers of an X-linked hereditary disorder, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Previous research most often assessed global self-esteem, thus problems in particular domains (such as future parental role or desirability as a mate) have generally been overlooked. Herein, a stigmatizing process is hypothesized whereby one aspect of the self, genetic identity, may be spoiled through a diminished sense of worthiness to reproduce. Family attitudes toward …

Design And Analysis Of A Process For Melt Casting Metallic Fuel Pins Incorporating Volatile Actinides, Yitung Chen, Darrell Pepper, Randy Clarksean

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

The goal of this project is to investigate the casting processes for metallic fuels to help design a process that minimizes the loss of the volatile actinide elements from the fuel.

The research effort centers on the development of advanced numerical models to assess conditions that significantly impact the transport of volatile actinides during the melt casting process and represents a joint effort between researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL).

Excellence In Nursing Education And Research [Complete Issue - Digital Origin: Fourth Quarter 2003, Vol. 4, 4], Sigma Theta Tau International

Sigma Past Publishing - Excellence Newsletters

Publishing History: Nursing Excellence published yearly in 1998 and 1999. The publication became Excellence in the first quarter 2000. It transitioned to Excellence in Nursing Education, Excellence in Nursing Administration, and Excellence in Clinical Practice in the second quarter 2000 with volume 1, number 2. Excellence in Nursing Education transitioned to Excellence in Nursing Education & Research in the first quarter 2002.

Publishing Frequency: Yearly 1998, 1999; Quarterly 2000 - 2004.

Format: Print 1999 - third quarter 2002; Online fourth quarter 2002 - first quarter 2004. Ceased publishing in 2004.

Select features in this issue:

Nursing students in the product …

Excellence In Nursing Education And Research [Complete Issue - Digital Origin: Second Quarter 2003, Vol. 4, 2], Donna Steele Martsolf, Sigma Theta Tau International

Sigma Past Publishing - Excellence Newsletters

Publishing History: Nursing Excellence published yearly in 1998 and 1999. The publication became Excellence in the first quarter 2000. It transitioned to Excellence in Nursing Education, Excellence in Nursing Administration, and Excellence in Clinical Practice in the second quarter 2000 with volume 1, number 2. Excellence in Nursing Education transitioned to Excellence in Nursing Education & Research in the first quarter 2002.

Publishing Frequency: Yearly 1998, 1999; Quarterly 2000 - 2004.

Format: Print 1999 - third quarter 2002; Online fourth quarter 2002 - first quarter 2004. Ceased publishing in 2004.

Select features in this issue:

Haiti research diary: Gathering data …