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Water Use And Natural Limits In The Las Vegas Valley: A History Of The Southern Nevada Water Authority, Christian Harrison

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis examines the history of the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and how it has helped transform various aspects of southern Nevada's economy and environment. Prior to the establishment of the SNWA in 1991 the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area (LVMA) possessed several competing water providers whose opposition to one another adversely affected the management of water in the region. These water providers recognized this problem, came together, and negotiated the creation of a regional water agency, the SNWA. This organization, comprised of representatives from each of the LVMA's water providers has the power to institute policy across municipal boundaries. …

Parental Substance Abuse And Child Neglect: A Controlled Trial Of A Developed Treatment Manual, Valeria Romero

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The maltreatment of children is a devastating social problem in the United States. Many researchers and child welfare workers believe the recent increase in child neglect is directly correlated to an increase in parental substance abuse. There is a strong relationship between child neglect and parental substance abuse; however there are limited treatments that address both issues simultaneously. The present case studies evaluated the efficacy of a newly developed Family Behavior Therapy (FBT) program for child neglect and parental substance abuse utilizing controlled single case methodology. The Family Behavior Therapy (FBT) program is an integration of two published FBT interventions; …

Health Motivation In Health Behavior: Its Theory And Application, Xiaoyan Xu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The present research proposed a definition and a theoretical model of health motivation that consists of four stages: development of health motivation tendency, formation of health intention, initiation of health related action, and persistence in actions to achieve goals developed at the first stage. Based upon this model, two health motivation scales - the Health Motivation Scale in Physical Activities (HMS-PA) and Health Motivation Scale in Healthy Eating (HMS-HE) were developed. Two studies were conducted to validate the validity of the scores obtained by these two scales. Study 1 proposed a definition and a theoretical model of health motivation, as …

Shuttle To Serenity: The History And Impact Of Zion National Park's Transportation System, Reuben Edward Wadsworth

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Shuttle to Serenity focuses on the history of the Zion National Park transportation system's planning, construction and implementation process. It details the unfavorable conditions in pre-shuttle Zion and shows how the shuttle has drastically improved the visitor experience and park environment since operations began in May 2000. The thesis also chronicles the groundbreaking partnership between Springdale, the gateway community, and Zion National Park, which proved vital in the shuttle implementation process. Ultimately, Shuttle to Serenity demonstrates that public transportation systems in national parks align the NPS with its mandate to preserve the natural beauty of each park for the enjoyment …

The Effects Of Gaming On Residential Real Estate Prices And Sales: A Case Study Of Las Vegas: 1990--2008, Christopher Alan Miller

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation empirically investigates the effects of the gaming industry on a local economy, specifically housing prices and sales in the city and surrounding areas of Las Vegas. This study explores many of the economic effects that Las Vegas' relatively unrestricted gaming industry has on surrounding home prices and sales and analyzes the specific forces and the issues they involve. As of this writing, little to no research has used seminal economic theories to analyze the effects of the performance of a locale's gaming industry on the surrounding residential real estate market. This study addresses this gap by examining the …

Statistical Inferences For Functions Of Parameters Of Several Pareto And Exponential Populations With Application In Data Traffic, Sumith Gunasekera

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In this dissertation, we discuss the usability and applicability of three statistical inferential frameworks--namely, the Classical Method, which is sometimes referred to as the Conventional or the Frequentist Method, based on the approximate large sample approach, the Generalized Variable Method based on the exact generalized p -value approach, and the Bayesian Method based on prior densities--for solving existing problems in the area of parametric estimation. These inference procedures are discussed through Pareto and exponential distributions that are widely used to model positive random variables relevant to social, scientific, actuarial, insurance, finance, investments, banking, and many other types of observable phenomena. …

Relationships And Dropping Out: The Voice Of At-Risk Youth, Robert Thomas Henry

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The practice of retaining students in grade has been studied, researched, discussed, criticized and yet it continues. Dropping out of school prior to graduation has been studied, researched, discussed, written about and continues to be practiced by our youth. Policymakers are often provided quantitative data to consider as they explore, evaluate, and deliberate issues such as the practice of retention-in-grade to assure adherence to standards, or in response to the social, political, and educational problems created by youth who have dropped out from school.

Current studies and research into retention and dropping out fail to include the issues from the …

Update To Ansi/Ans-6.4.3-1991 For Low-Z And Compound Materials And Review Of Particle Transport Theory, Luis Durani

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The ANSI/ANS-6.4.3-1991 Gamma-Ray Attenuation Coefficients and Buildup Factors for Engineering Materials Standard (herein known as ANS Standard), contains derived gamma-ray attenuation coefficients and buildup factors for selected engineering materials and elements for use in shielding calculations (ANSI/ANS-6.1.1, 1991). The current status of the ANS Standard is withdrawn due to the lack of any updates since its last publication. Since the last update of the ANS standard, more accurate codes for particle transport and cross sectional data have become available. As a result, this study was carried out to update gamma-ray buildup factors for iron and water as a function of …

"The Latent Enmity Of Georgia": Sherman's March And Its Effects On The Social Division Of Georgia, Michael Jason Spurr

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In September 1864, Union General William T. Sherman's Savannah Campaign targeted the growing animosity between wealthy and poor Georgians when he proposed that Union forces "arouse the latent enmity of Georgia." This thesis continues the study of the March to the Sea by examining the effect of Sherman's campaign as it pertained to the social divisions between Georgians. Sherman's army alone did not ruin the state's ability to remain a vital contributor to the war effort, but rather focused upon the already growing social disputes between Georgians over economic contributions, military sacrifice, and political support. Even before Sherman's army arrived, …

The Meaning Of Being A Primary Nurse Preceptor For Newly Graduated Nurses, Jennifer Richards

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Preceptorship is a vital component of the transition experience of newly graduated nurses into clinical practice. Preceptors teach, supervise, and evaluate newly graduated nurses, and also help them socialize into their roles as registered nurses. In the presence of an ever-growing nursing shortage and evidence that many new nurses are leaving their first positions, it is of paramount importance that we make every attempt to ease the transition of newly graduated nurses into clinical practice. Additionally important is the need to understand the experience of all involved in the process.

The primary purpose of this study was to achieve a …

Taiwanese Gambling Behaviors, Perceptions, And Attitudes, Che Hao Chang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study categorizes different Taiwanese gambling types using PGSI, and further evaluates the perceptions and attitudes toward the legalization of casino gambling. A survey was conducted using convenient sampling and distributed by Internet. Results indicate that across groups of different types of gamblers, there are significant differences in perceptions toward the legalized casino gambling industry. Also, across groups of different types of gamblers, there are significant differences in attitudes toward legalized casino gambling. Additionally, there are significant differences between perceptions toward the legalized casino gambling industry, and attitudes toward the legalization of casino gambling. In general, non-gamblers are relatively more …

Zirconia-Magnesia Inert Matrix Fuel And Waste Form: Synthesis, Characterization And Chemical Performance In An Advanced Fuel Cycle, Kiel Steven Holliday

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There is a significant buildup in plutonium stockpiles throughout the world, because of spent nuclear fuel and the dismantling of weapons. The radiotoxicity of this material and proliferation risk has led to a desire for destroying excess plutonium. To do this effectively, it must be fissioned in a reactor as part of a uranium free fuel to eliminate the generation of more plutonium. This requires an inert matrix to volumetrically dilute the fissile plutonium. Zirconia-magnesia dual phase ceramic has been demonstrated to be a favorable material for this task. It is neutron transparent, zirconia is chemically robust, magnesia has good …

Processes Of Disposition Development In K--5 Teachers, Deborah A. Obara

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Educators concur that teacher competency requires more than teaching knowledge and skills; competency requires appropriate professional dispositions. The development of professional dispositions is an expected outcome of teacher education programs. Since 2002, program accreditation has been contingent on documentation that prospective teachers have met national standards for dispositions. The body of educational research on disposition assessment has been growing. Research on disposition learning and development, however, has been impeded by the prevailing conceptualization of dispositions as fixed traits resistant to change. The present study conceptualized dispositions as malleable constructs within a theoretical framework that synthesized a cognitive model of thinking …

Zoroastrians On The Internet, A Quiet Social Movement: Ethnography Of A Virtual Community, Helen Gerth

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Zoroastrians today are a small but vibrant ethno-religious diaspora estimated at 130,000-258,000. They are members of the oldest monotheistic world religion originating in the Inner Asian steppes in approximately 1500 B.C. living as a religious minority in widely dispersed communities across the world. Increasingly they have turned to the Internet to discuss challenges of declining population, maintaining an ethno-religious identity, conversion, and intermarriage. The question grounding this research is how does this small ethno-religious minority maintain its boundaries and cohesion in the modern world? This study found that Zoroastrians maintain group boundaries and cohesion in the modern world, in part, …

Improving Casino Profitability Through Effective Offer Packages, Ren Zhang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of the this study is to investigate effective marketing techniques to attract potential customers in a particular demographic group, young people aged from 21 to 34, as a way of exploring the local market. This demographic group constitutes a dynamic part of the local population and is characterized by its unique financial conditions and spending preferences. The hypothesis is that with well-designed price bundling, the casinos can realize increased revenue through increased visits from the local young population. The marketing technique used in this study is to utilize offer packages which bundle promotional items and other hotel-provided services. …

Two-Tank Indirect Thermal Storage Designs For Solar Parabolic Trough Power Plants, Joseph E. Kopp

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The performance of a solar thermal parabolic trough plant with thermal storage is dependent upon the arrangement of the heat exchangers that ultimately transfer energy from the sun into steam. The steam is utilized in a traditional Rankine cycle power plant. The most commercially accepted thermal storage design is an indirect two-tank molten salt storage system where molten salt interacts with the solar field heat transfer fluid (HTF) through a heat exchanger. The molten salt remains in a closed loop with the HTF and the HTF is the heat source for steam generation. An alternate indirect two tank molten salt …

Novel Techniques In Iris Recognition, David Walker

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Using Daugman's algorithm and comparable alternatives, we find that we are able to identify an iris with as little as less than half of the iris information available, and an equal error rate comparable with that of popular biometrics like the fingerprint and face recognition biometrics. Different experiments were done based on percentage of iris shown, the resolution of the iris, and the position of the iris covered to determine if partial iris recognition is a viable biometric. It was found after over 500,000 different iris comparisons amongst five different experiments that regardless of the model used and the resolution, …

Evaluating The Response Styles Theory Of Depression Using Descriptive Experience Sampling, Theresa A. Scott

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Response Styles Theory of Depression states that there are two main responses to depression: distraction and rumination. Though it is believed distraction helps to alleviate feelings of dysphoria, the theory suggests rumination actually prolongs and intensifies episodes of depression (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1990, 1991). Rumination is also believed to play a role in the higher rates of depression seen in women (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1990, 1991). In 1987, Nolen-Hoeksema created the Response Styles Questionnaire (RSQ) as a measure to identify those who tend to use distraction or rumination as a psychological response to feelings of sadness or depression. The goal of this study …

Mental Illness, Co-Occurring Factors And Aggression As Examined In An American Prison, Stephanie Leigh Sullivan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study examines the relationship between several factors which have been identified in previous research as co-occurring and risk relevant to aggressive behavior. Although many factors have been addressed independently for various reasons in other studies, this study looks at the unique combination of a select few of these variables and their relationship for propensity towards aggression. The results of this study show propensity towards aggression is significant for two specific mental health issues; anxiety, and history of severe head injury. Results also indicate that co-occurring factors are prevalent in this sample and those inmates with prior mental illness are …

Patient-Focused Research: Examining The Psychotherapist As A Feedback Receiver, Michael Haderlie

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The provision of feedback to psychotherapists regarding patient progress has been shown to produce improved therapy outcomes. However, little is known regarding therapists' responses to feedback. The current research examined novice therapists' perceptions of feedback based on the Outcome Questionnaire-45 (OQ-45). It was hypothesized that feedback would be considered more valuable when it was negatively-valenced (i.e., indicated that patient response to therapy was worse than expected). Patients (N = 19) of 5 trainee psychotherapists completed the OQ-45 before each session. Therapists then received feedback and rated it based on several characteristics. As hypothesized, negatively-valenced feedback was rated as more valuable …

Descriptive Experience Sampling Interactive Multimedia Training Tool, Arva Bensaheb

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Descriptive Experience Sampling Interactive Multimedia Training Tool By Arva Bensaheb Dr. Russell T. Hurlburt, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Psychology University of Nevada Las Vegas The present study developed a multimedia training tool to teach skills necessary to recognize two phenomena identified by the Descriptive Experience Sampling method: sensory awareness and unsymbolized thinking. The training tool was developed by subjecting successive versions to critical feedback provided by focus groups. Then training provided by this new training tool was compared with the training provided by extant literary materials on the two phenomena. Results suggest that the training tool was more effective …

The Effects Of Ultrasound Transducer Velocity On Intramuscular Tissue Temperature Across A Treatment Site, Pamela Liceralde

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This purpose of this study was twofold: to determine whether ultrasound transducer velocity affected tissue temperature increase, and whether heating was uniform across the treatment site. Thermocouples were inserted 2.5cm below the skin surface at the center, edge of the ERA, and the edge of the treatment site that was the size of two times the soundhead. Each subject received three 10-minute treatments at each speed, letting tissue temperature return to baseline between treatments.

Repeated measures factorial ANOVA revealed no significant differences in the speed of application and no interaction between speed and location. However, the location of the thermocouples …

Effects Of Similarity Metrics On Document Clustering, Rushikesh Veni

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Document clustering or unsupervised document classification is an automated process of grouping documents with similar content. A typical technique uses a similarity function to compare documents. In the literature, many similarity functions such as dot product or cosine measures are proposed for the comparison operator.

For the thesis, we evaluate the effects a similarity function may have on clustering. We start by representing a document and a query, both as a vector of high-dimensional space corresponding to the keywords followed by using an appropriate distance measure in k-means to compute similarity between the document vector and the query vector to …

Characterization Of Aerobic Respiration In Great Basin Hot Springs, Caitlin N. Murphy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Despite a wide diversity of possible electron donors available to fuel chemolithotrophy, it has been proposed that hydrogen is the single most important electron donor in geothermal ecosystems. To directly test this hypothesis, a simple system was devised to determine whether microorganisms in hot spring water and sediment are capable of using hydrogen and other electron donors for aerobic respiration using microrespirometry. The protocol for these experiments was developed using pure cultures of Thermocrinis ruber to determine the effect of growth conditions on the rate of oxygen consumption following the addition of electron donors. For field experiments, samples were collected …

Ground Reaction Forces For Children Running In Different Shoes, Dana Forrest

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine whether certain ground reaction force parameters such as impact force (F1), second maximum force (F2), loading rate, stance time and average vertical ground reaction force (Fzavg) differ when 11-13 year old children run in a neutral shoe (Nike Air Pegasus+ 25) that is either a child or adult style.

Shoes were impact tested in an impact test instrument to determine any performance differences between the two shoes. Next, 10 healthy female subjects aged 12.03 ± 1.14 years with a height of 154.6 ± 4.90 cm and a mass of 46.18 ± 14.33 …

Standing In The Night, Karin Jane Millhouse

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Standing in the Night has been completed under the influence of phenomenology with its curious regard towards reality. Yet it makes no claims to be anything other than what it is: really, we're just making it all up as we go along.

From School To Practice: The Meaning Of Nurses' Holistic Comfort, Michal Goodwin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Nurses entering the healthcare arena are likely to encounter a gap in preparation from school to practice. Despite well-intentioned transition programs, nurses struggle to keep up with the reality of demanding schedules, stressful work environments and non-nursing tasks, such as their own comfort. Holistic comfort, a well-known concept in patient care, offers an innovative approach to nursing education to sustain new nurses transitioning into practice. This phenomenological study explored how nurses who experienced holistic comfort in their schooling were able to use the same philosophical approach to transcend unavoidable difficulties early in their careers.

Newly practicing nurses from a program …

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Interactive Field, Interactive Class And Non-Interactive Class Lecture Teaching Strategies To Teach Wetland Ecology Concepts To 6th Grade Science Students, April Marie Samson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study tested the effectiveness of interactive teaching methods on the learning of wetland ecology concepts by 6 th grade science students. 330 students from nineteen different 6 th grade science classes were used in this study. These classes were separated into four different treatment groups, each containing presentations with varying degrees of student interaction. This was done in attempt to test the effect of interactive teaching methods on attitude about the environment and knowledge regarding wetland ecology concepts, specifically, on outdoor education as a process of learning by doing. Student knowledge of wetland ecology concepts and attitudes toward the …

Biofeedback Assisted Relaxation Training Program To Decrease Test Anxiety In Nursing Students, Catherine Andrea Prato

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Nursing programs have been cited as being among the most stressful undergraduate programs. Students' knowledge and skills are consistently tested and monitored, and students may fail a course or be dropped from their nursing program if scores are not above a certain standard. Anxiety reactions are common to situations perceived as threatening; however, excessive anxiety may paralyze an individual and interfere with effective learning, functioning, and testing. Numerous studies have found increased anxiety causes physiological changes including increased respirations and heart rate, and decreased peripheral skin temperature. The purpose of this study was two fold. First test anxiety was measured …

Child Neglect And Trauma: The Additive Traumatic Effects Of Neglect On Maltreated Adolescents, Adrianna Rachel Wechsler

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Child maltreatment affects thousands of youths in the United States and poses numerous detrimental effects to individuals, families, and the community. Neglect is the most commonly reported and least studied form of child maltreatment. All types of child maltreatment may result in negative outcomes, but the chronic and pervasive nature of child neglect poses a significant threat to child development. No studies have been published evaluating the role of child neglect in the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and PTSD-related symptoms. This study examined whether neglect has an additive traumatic effect on maltreated youth. The first hypothesis was that …