Digital Commons Network^™

Managing Halal Quality In Food Service Industry, Siew Fun Vivienne Soong

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Muslim world population survey conducted in 2005 found that Islam is the fastest growing religion on earth, both through birth and adoption. There were 2 billion Muslims scatted around 148 countries and the figures are rising each day. It is estimated that by 2010, the Muslim population will exceed 3 billion (Evans, 2005). The recorded growth rate for Muslim population is as follows: the Europe Muslim population of around 25 million increased at a rate of 140% over the past 10 years, America’s by 25%, Australia’s by 250% and Asia’s increased by 12% over the same period. The healthy …

Effects Of An Upbeat And Positive Attitude In Customer Service Interactions, Brent Pritchett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In an extension of research demonstrating the effects of an upbeat and positive attitude in customer service interactions, the experiment and case studies examined in this paper identified evidence in support of displaying a positive behavior during customer service interactions. In the experiment, casino table game dealers were identified that exuded a consistent upbeat and positive attitude. These dealers were compared to other dealers who were inconsistent in their behavior. The experiment revealed that dealers, who engaged customers with a positive attitude, earned more in tipped income. In a series of case studies, service surveys were taken from customers that …

Evalution Of The Efficacy Of The Photosystem Ii Inhibitor Dcmu In Periphyton And Its Effects On Nontarget Microorganisms And Extracellular Enzymatic Reactions, Steven N. Francoeur, Audrey C. Johnson, Kevin A. Kuehn, Robert K. Neely

Faculty Publications

We examined the efficacy of the photosystem II inhibitor 3-(3,4-diclorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl urea (DCMU) for inhibition of algal photosynthesis in periphyton associated with submerged decomposing litter of Typha angustifolia. We also investigated the possible nontarget effects of DCMU exposure on heterotrophic microorganisms (i.e., bacteria and fungi) and extracellular enzyme activity associated with decaying litter. Standing-dead Typha leaf litter was submerged for 34 and 73 d, returned to the laboratory, and used for controlled laboratory experiments that examined the effect of DCMU on algal ([¹⁴C]bicarbonate, pulse-amplitude modulated fluorometry), bacterial ([³H]leucine), and fungal ([¹⁴C]acetate) production. Simultaneous assays …

Diagnostics For Choosing Between Log-Rank And Wilcoxon Tests, Ruvie Lou Maria Custodio Martinez

Dissertations

Two commonly used tests for comparison of survival curves are the generalized Wilcoxon procedure of Gehan (1965) and Breslow (1970) and the Log-rank test proposed by Mantel (1966) and Cox (1972). In applications, the Log-rank test is used after checking for validity of the proportional hazards (PH) assumption, with Wilcoxon being the fallback method when the PH assumption fails.

However, the relative performance of the two procedures depend not just on the PH assumption but also on the pattern of differences between the two curves. We will show that the crucial factor is whether the differences tend to occur early …

A Study Of Intake And Assessment In Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Christopher J. Richmond

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare clients' assessment of two different counseling intake procedures used by clinicians. This study compared a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) intake intervention with an intake intervention constructed from the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I). The SCID-I is one of the most widely used diagnostic interviews and reflects a "gold standard" in formulating accurate diagnoses. The SFBTintake intervention developed for this study stands in stark contrast to the SCID-I and its primary objective, evaluation of the problem. SFBT is a strength-based model that maintains a positive and future-oriented focus. …

Mapk Survival Signaling In Melanoma, Matthew W. Vanbrocklin

Dissertations

Extracellular signals activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades potentiating biological activities such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Constitutive activation of MAPK signaling pathways is implicated in the development and progression of many human cancers, including melanoma. Mutually exclusive activating mutations in NRAS or BRAF are found in ∼85% of all melanomas resulting in constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway (RAS-BRAF-MEK-ERK-RSK). We have previously demonstrated that inhibition of this pathway with small molecule MEK inhibitors selectively induces apoptosis in human melanoma cells both in vitro and in vivo, but not in normal melanocytes. These results support the notion that the …

And They Were There -- Reports Of Meetings -- 27th Annual Charleston Conference, Ramune K. Kubilius

Against the Grain

No abstract provided.

Detection And Removal Of Eyeblink Artifacts From Eeg Using Wavelet Analysis And Independent Component Analysis, Jimy Pesin

Theses

Electrical signals generated by brain activity that are measured by the electroencephalogram can be distorted by electrical activity originating from eyeblinks and eye movements. This thesis proposes a new technique to identify and remove eyeblink artifacts from EEG data. An algorithm using a combination of wavelet analysis and independent component analysis (ICA) is implemented to detect the temporal location of the eyeblink artifact and eliminate it without compromising the integrity of the primary EEG data. The discrete wavelet transform is performed on 10 second epochs of data to detect the occurrence of ocular artifact. ICA is used to separate out …

Entrainment And Stimulated Emission Of Ultrasonic Piezoelectric Auto-Oscillators, Richard L. Weaver, Oleg I. Lobkis, Alexey Yamilov

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Theoretical modeling and laboratory tests are conducted for nonlinear auto-oscillating piezoelectric ultrasonic devices coupled to reverberant elastic bodies. the devices are shown to exhibit behavior familiar from the theory of coupled auto-oscillators. in particular, these spontaneously emitting devices adjust their limit-cycle frequency to the spectrum of the body. It is further shown that the auto-oscillations can be entrained by an applied field; an incident wave at a frequency close to the frequency of the natural limit cycle entrains the oscillator. Special attention is paid to the phase of entrainment. Depending on details, the phase is such that the oscillator can …

Cultural Disparities Of Sat Scores And The Influence On Higher Education Opportunities For African American And Latino Students, Nichelle Hoover

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Inequalities in the distribution of education resources and cultural identification can lead to lower SAT scores for African American and Latino students. By using SAT scores as one of the primary sources to determine admission to institutions of higher education, educators may be denying minority students admission to a variety of colleges and universities, depriving the student of his or her best choice and the college of an engaged and diverse student body, and contributing to the perpetuation of inequalities in the system. The evidence contained in this literature review shows that, given the current system, those students' SAT scores …

Reformed Worship (Rw) 86 - Lent / Easter (December 2007), Reformed Worship Editors

Reformed Worship Magazine

Features

Dust off Those Bells! by Phillip M. Hash....3

The Love of God by Mary Sytsma....6

Participating in the Passion by Scott Lammers....8

Were You There? by Alex Gondola....12

From Burdened to Blessed by Stanley J. Groothof and Curt Gesch....20

Early in the Morning by Cheri TerHaar....22

In the Fullness of Time, Part 2 by Lisa De Boer....24

Praying the Lord's Prayer During Lent by Laura and Robert Keeley....32

Liturgy: A Public Service by Karen Bokma and Mike Hogeterp....36

God's Eye Is on the Refugee by Sonya Vanderveen Feddma....38

Beautiful …

Phase Iii Development Of A Short-Radius Guardrail For Intersecting Roadways, Cody S. Stolle, Karla A. Polivka, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller, Dean L. Sicking, John R. Rohde, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Investing In Air Transport - A Prudent Move, Ruwantissa Abeyratnre

Transportation Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Discerning The Covenant Renewal Model, Randy Robert Butler

Doctor of Ministry

Modem Christians in the United States are products of both their environment and their past. In a time when "cultural relevancy" is the buzz word, there appears to be a desperate attempt to "get it right" with God. Modems have jumped from fads to fashions to forms, all in an attempt to find a connection with God. Yet there appears to be restlessness within the body of Christ. There is also division within the body of Christ. With the rise of postmodern Christians and the emerging church, modem Christians are left scratching their heads, searching for answers to questions that …

Exchange Rate Policy Design: Choosing The Right Exchange Rate Response In A Changing Environment, M. I. Obadan

Economic and Financial Review

This article examines exchange rate policy design with reference to how to choose the appropriate exchange rate Response for the right environment. The article is structured into four parts with the introduction as part I. Part II gives the overview of Nigeria's exchange rate framework. Part III reviews different concepts of equilibrium exchange rates with a focus on the fundamental equilibrium exchange rate (FEER) and the behavioural equilibrium exchange rate (BEER) approaches. Part IV discusses the challenges encountered in choosing the right exchange rate response in the new banking sector environment. Part V concludes the paper and proffers the way …

Towards Inflation Targeting Framework For Monetary Policy In Nigeria: The Challenges For Central Bank Of Nigeria, M. Hugman

Economic and Financial Review

This article examines inflation with reference to Nigeria. As an emerging market environment. Part one outlines briefly the underlying mechanisms of inflation-management and general approaches to inflation targeting. Part two focuses on issues that specifically relate to inflation targeting (IT) in emerging markets, including the possible macroeconomic impact of the transition process. Part three considers the sequence and timing of the transition to IT in Nigeria, on the shift in exchange rate management required to achieve long-term price stability. Additionally, Nigeria-specific challenges are also addressed. The paper concludes by noting that both the time frame and coordination for a successful …

Inflation Targeting As A Tool Of Monetary Management: International Experiences, A. F. Odusola

Economic and Financial Review

This article seeks to address the main prerequisites and key challenges of implementing inflation targeting across many countries and draws relevant lessons for countries that are contemplating the adoption of IT. To achieve this objective, the rest of the paper has been structured as follows. Following the introduction is part II which examines the theoretical framework for IT while the review of international experiences is contained in part III. Contemporary issues and challenges are considered in part IV while recommendations and conclusion are the focus of part V.

Asset Price Movements And Derivatives: Implications For Monetary Policy In Nigeria, Ola Sholarin

Economic and Financial Review

The article highlights the importance of maintaining accurate market value for a wide variety of asset classes. From the perspective of speculators, the author discusses the methodology for identifying undervalued or overvalued assets for taking appropriate bet on such assets. From analysts, hedgers or investors perspective, this paper discusses how financial instruments derivative could be used to protect financial assets and return on such assets against volatility. The author highlights application of the same set of derivative instruments for speculative, regulatory arbitrageurs and other purposes. For the same group, this paper identifies fundamental variables that determine assets' prices in a …

Ultrastructure Study Of Postmenopausal Endometria Of Tibolone, Conjugated Estrogen + Medroxyprogesterone Acetate And Tamoxifen Users, Tuncay Nas, Mustafa F. Sargon, Hamdi H. Celik, Pinar O. Keskin, Rifat H. Gursoy, Kutay Biberoglu

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Ultrasonography And Computed Tomography In Determining The Etiology Of Ascites, Naile B. Topal, Selim Gurel, Ilker Ercan, Gursel Savci

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) in the evaluation of ascites etiology. METHODS: From 2000-2006, patients admitted to the Radiology Department, Uludag University Medical School Hospital, Bursa, Turkey, were studied to determine the etiology of ascites, or those in whom ascites was determined during the course of other investigations were evaluated using US and CT. Existence of septa-debris, accompanying organ pathology, omental involvement, intestinal wall thickening, peritoneal implant, lymph node, diameter of portal vein, thickening of gall bladder wall, pleural effusion, collateral vascular structure, and cavernous transformation were also investigated. RESULTS: A total of …

Metformin Discontinuation Rate Among Patients With Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus In Basrah, Iraq, Abbas A. Mansour, Omran S. Habib

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Sales Opportunity Crafting: Explaining How Salespeople Craft Value Propositions In Business-To-Business Selling, Ganesh Kumar

Student Scholarship

This paper examines the spontaneous, situational, adaptive capabilities in successful business-to-business salespeople. Salespeople craft appropriate sales value propositions that resonate with buyers to achieve a sale. Findings indicate sales value propositions occur in four distinct patterns, as a combination of a salespeople’s choice in emphasizing the value of their relationship and/or the solution itself. This paper combines contingency selling approaches with job crafting to suggest a new construct—“sales opportunity crafting (SOC)”—to explain how salespeople frame a sales opportunity and then decide on a sales value positioning response. The suggested model highlights the role of antecedents— such as influence over customers’ …

The Effects Of Acute Nicotine Abstinence On Vigilance And Verbal Memory In Non-Diagnosed Smokers, David W. Ayer

Dissertations

Research has shown a differential prevalence of smoking in the schizophrenic population compared to other psychiatric and non-diagnosed populations. The three most commonly investigated reasons for this differential prevalence in schizophrenics are: the self-medication hypothesis, side effects hypothesis, and sociological hypothesis. The self-medication hypothesis which proposes that schizophrenics smoke at a higher rate to ameliorate cognitive deficits is the most substantiated by the research. Of current interest is the possible role of nicotine in improving performance on vigilance and verbal memory, the two areas shown to be most related to impaired social functioning in schizophrenics. It is difficult to make …

Quantum Properties Of Light Emitted By Dipole Nano-Laser, Talal Ghannam

Dissertations

Recent technological advances allow entire optical systems to be lithographically implanted on small silicon chips. These systems include tiny semiconductor lasers that function as light sources for digital optical signals. Future advances will rely on even smaller components. At the theoretical limit of this process, the smallest lasers will have an active medium consisting of a single atom (natural or artificial). Several suggestions for how this can be accomplished have already been published, such as nano-lasers based on photonic crystals and nano wires. In particular, the "dipole nanolaser" consists of a single quantum dot functioning as the active medium. It …

Exposing Star Teachers Of Children In Poverty, Bobbi Morehead

Dissertations

Public schools have control over whom they choose to hire to serve as teachers. When quality teachers are hired, all students have a better chance at achieving academic success. It is the responsibility of every public school principal to truly understand common patterns, which can assist teachers to become outstanding teachers, defined in this study as Star Teachers. It is also the principals' responsibility to make sure the work conditions of such Star Teachers are conducive to personal and professional renewal.

The passion to educate all children drives the following research questions: (1) How do Star Teachers describe the significant …

Estimating The Impact, Transmission Mechanism And Reaction Function Of Monetary Policy: A Factor-Augmented Vector Autoregressive (Favar) Approach, Dawit Legesse Senbet

Dissertations

This dissertation employs factor-augmented vector autoregressive (FAVAR) models to investigate the impact, transmission mechanism and reaction function of monetary policy. The recent development of augmenting dynamic factor analysis with the vector autoregressive (VAR) models, pioneered by Bernanke et al. (2005), has led to advances in monetary policy analysis. The new approach bases measurements of monetary policy on large data sets that approximate the true information set of policymakers. This is in contrast to low dimensional VAR models. The FAVAR model summarizes information from large data set by a few factors that are incorporated into VAR models.

The first essay investigates …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Stilbenoids And Their Aza-Analogs As Photoluminescent Materials For The Detection Of Nerve Agent Mimics, Chun Wang

Dissertations

A novel series of stilbenoids and their aza analogs were synthesized, characterized and used as photoluminescent components in the detection of nerve agents. Their structure-property relationship was elucidated through UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. The research in this thesis is driven by the hypothesis that the two-block sensor system consisting of a receptor incorporated ruthenium complex and a fluorescent signal molecule of stilbenoids, is capable of detecting chemical warfare agents. The sensor anchored onto nanoparticles and subsequently the nanoparticles were arranged through mediated self-assembly. While photo-induced electron transfer is a well-known mechanism for sensor design, the described system showed that photo-induced …

Vygotsky’S Theory Of The Creative Imagination: A Study Of The Influences On Preservice Teachers’ Creative Thinking Capacities, Stephen J. Worst

Dissertations

This study investigated the effect of formal instruction in the use of creative thinking skills on preservice teachers' capacities for increased creative activity. It emerged from Vygotsky's theory of the creative imagination. Emphasizing the impact of formal schooling on the growth of creative activity, he implied that individuals who are continually adding to accumulation of knowledge develop an abundant imagination from which creativity flows.

This quantitative study used a quasi-experimental design and attempted to test Vygotsky's assumptions within a sample population of 113 preservice teachers. Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking served as the pre- and post-tests that measured the creative …

Monetary Policy And Economic Growth: Theoretical And Conceptual Issues, D. G. Omotor

Economic and Financial Review

This article seeks to address the relationship between monetary policy and economic growth by enunciating the conceptual and theoretical issues that relate to monetary policy and economic growth. The paper is divided into five sections. Following the introduction in section 1, section 2 discusses the objectives of monetary policy. The monetary transmission mechanisms are schematically explained in section 3. Section 4 reviews the performance assessment of monetary policy and its framework in Nigeria. The constraints of monetary policy management in Nigeria are espoused in section 5. The final section concludes the paper.

Exchange Rate Versus Capital Account Liberalization In Nigeria: Some Important Issues, A. E. Akinlo, D. O. Yinusa

Economic and Financial Review

This article examines the relationship between exchange rate and account liberalization in Nigeria. It focuses on monetary policy design and management in a fast-changing world. It highlights that the need for continuous research into this subject is highlighted by the reliance on monetary policy as the principal tool for economic stabilisation in emerging market economies.