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2012

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A Modular Mind? A Test Using Individual Data From Seven Primate Species, Federica Amici, Bradley Barney, Valen E. Johnson, Josep Call, Filippo Aureli Dec 2012

A Modular Mind? A Test Using Individual Data From Seven Primate Species, Federica Amici, Bradley Barney, Valen E. Johnson, Josep Call, Filippo Aureli

Faculty Articles

It has long been debated whether the mind consists of specialized and independently evolving modules, or whether and to what extent a general factor accounts for the variance in performance across different cognitive domains. In this study, we used a hierarchical Bayesian model to re-analyse individual level data collected on seven primate species (chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, gorillas, spider monkeys, brown capuchin monkeys and long-tailed macaques) across 17 tasks within four domains (inhibition, memory, transposition and support). Our modelling approach evidenced the existence of both a domain-specific factor and a species factor, each accounting for the same amount (17%) of the …


Evaluating Rawls: Equality In The Family, Devan Griffith Dec 2012

Evaluating Rawls: Equality In The Family, Devan Griffith

Honors Projects in History and Social Sciences

This paper examines the latest developments in feminist critiques of the seminal Theory of Justice, written by John Rawls, the late preeminent American moral philosopher. Rawls is recognized as one of the most influential moral political philosophers of the twentieth century and is increasingly relevant because of his discussions on pluralist societies. With the current diverging of liberal, conservative and libertarian philosophies among Americans, as well as the fragmentation of parties to accommodate an increasingly diverse public, a clear philosophy and understanding of liberal theory is necessary for its future in American politics. The current pressure to address the needs …


Information Content Of Seasonal Forecasts In A Changing Climate, Nir Krakauer, Michael D. Grossberg, Irina Gladkova, Hannah Aizenman Dec 2012

Information Content Of Seasonal Forecasts In A Changing Climate, Nir Krakauer, Michael D. Grossberg, Irina Gladkova, Hannah Aizenman

Publications and Research

We study the potential value to stakeholders of probabilistic long-term forecasts, as quantified by the mean information gain of the forecast compared to climatology. We use as a case study the USA Climate Prediction Center (CPC) forecasts of 3-month temperature and precipitation anomalies made at 0.5-month lead time since 1995. Mean information gain was positive but low (about 2% and 0.5% of the maximum possible for temperature and precipitation forecasts, resp.) and has not increased over time. Information-based skill scores showed similar patterns to other, non-information-based, skill scores commonly used for evaluating seasonal forecasts but tended to be smaller, suggesting …


Use Of International Hydrographic Organization Tidal Data For Improved Tidal Prediction, Songwei Qi Dec 2012

Use Of International Hydrographic Organization Tidal Data For Improved Tidal Prediction, Songwei Qi

Dissertations and Theses

Tides are the rise and fall of water level caused by gravitational forces exerted by the sun, moon and earth. Understanding sea level variation and its impact currents is very important especially in coastal regions. With knowledge of the tide-generating force and boundary conditions, hydrodynamic models can be used to predict or model tides in coastal regions. However, these models are not sufficiently accurate, and in-situ tide gauge data may be used to improve them in coastal regions. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) tidal data bank consists of over 4000 tide gauge stations scattered all around the globe, most of …


Modeling And Characterization Of Power Distribution Networks With Installed Distributed Generation And Connected Phevs, Santhosh Basineni Dec 2012

Modeling And Characterization Of Power Distribution Networks With Installed Distributed Generation And Connected Phevs, Santhosh Basineni

Electrical Engineering Theses

This thesis is focused on the modeling and characterization of power distribution networks with installed distributed generation and connected plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). A PHEV charging/discharging (bidirectional) model has been developed in MATLAB®-Simulink. Installed photovoltaic systems with varying irradiance rates are modeled and characterized. Moreover, installed wind generators with varying wind speeds are modeled and characterized. Furthermore, the charging and discharging characteristics of connected PHEV are determined. The system characteristics are determined and investigated against the PHEV battery state of charge (SOC).


Tuning Of Alternative Splicing - Switch From Proto-Oncogene To Tumor Suppressor, Aleksandra Shchelkunova, Boris Ermolinsky, Meghan Boyle, Ivan Mendez, Michael Lehker, Karen S. Martirosyan, Alexander V. Kazanksy Dec 2012

Tuning Of Alternative Splicing - Switch From Proto-Oncogene To Tumor Suppressor, Aleksandra Shchelkunova, Boris Ermolinsky, Meghan Boyle, Ivan Mendez, Michael Lehker, Karen S. Martirosyan, Alexander V. Kazanksy

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

STAT5B, a specific member of the STAT family, is intimately associated with prostate tumor progression. While the full form of STAT5B is thought to promote tumor progression, a naturally occurring truncated isoform acts as a tumor suppressor. We previously demonstrated that truncated STAT5 is generated by insertion of an alternatively spliced exon and results in the introduction of an early termination codon. Present approaches targeting STAT proteins based on inhibition of functional domains of STAT's, such as DNA-binding, cooperative binding (protein-protein interaction), dimerization and phosphorylation will halt the action of the entire gene, both the proto-oncogenic and tumor suppressor functions …


Tuning Of Alternative Splicing - Switch From Proto-Oncogene To Tumor Suppressor, Aleksandra Shchelkunova, Boris Ermolinsky, Meghan Boyle, Ivan Mendez, Michael Lehker, Karen S. Martirosyan, Alexander V. Kazansky Dec 2012

Tuning Of Alternative Splicing - Switch From Proto-Oncogene To Tumor Suppressor, Aleksandra Shchelkunova, Boris Ermolinsky, Meghan Boyle, Ivan Mendez, Michael Lehker, Karen S. Martirosyan, Alexander V. Kazansky

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

STAT5B, a specific member of the ST AT family, is intimately associated with prostate tumor progression. While the full form of STAT5B is thought to promote tumor progression, a naturally occurring truncated isoform acts as a tumor suppressor. We previously demonstrated that truncated STAT5 is generated by insertion of an alternatively spliced exon and results in the introduction of an early termination codon. Present approaches targeting ST AT proteins based on inhibition of functional domains of STAT's, such as DNA-binding, cooperative binding (protein-protein interaction), dimerization and phosphorylation will halt the action of the entire gene, both the proto-oncogenic and tumor …


Completion Of Hankel Partial Contractions Of Extremal Type, Raúl E. Curto, Sang Hoon Lee, Jasang Yoon Dec 2012

Completion Of Hankel Partial Contractions Of Extremal Type, Raúl E. Curto, Sang Hoon Lee, Jasang Yoon

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We find concrete necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of contractive completions of Hankel partial contractions of size 4 × 4 in the extremal case. Along the way we introduce a new approach that allows us to solve, algorithmically, the contractive completion problem for 4 × 4 Hankel matrices. As an application, we obtain a concrete example of a partially contractive 4 × 4 Hankel matrix, which does not admit a contractive completion.


On The Peakon And Soliton Solutions Of An Integrable Pde With Cubic Nonlinearities, Rossen Ivanov, Tony Lyons Dec 2012

On The Peakon And Soliton Solutions Of An Integrable Pde With Cubic Nonlinearities, Rossen Ivanov, Tony Lyons

Conference papers

The interest in the singular solutions (peakons) has been inspired by the Camassa-Holm (CH) equation and its peakons. An integrable peakon equation with cubic nonlinearities was first discovered by Qiao. Another integrable equation with cubic nonlinearities was introduced by V. Novikov . We investigate the peakon and soliton solutions of the Qiao equation.


Review Of The 14th International Conference On Gambling & Risk Taking, Sally Monaghan, Brett L.L. Abarbanel, Toni Repetti, Ashlee M. Kalina, Bo Bernhard Dec 2012

Review Of The 14th International Conference On Gambling & Risk Taking, Sally Monaghan, Brett L.L. Abarbanel, Toni Repetti, Ashlee M. Kalina, Bo Bernhard

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

No abstract provided.


Book Reviews, Betty Mcneal Dec 2012

Book Reviews, Betty Mcneal

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

No abstract provided.


Toward Legalization Of Poker: The Skill Vs. Chance Debate, Robert C. Hannum, Anthony N. Cabot Dec 2012

Toward Legalization Of Poker: The Skill Vs. Chance Debate, Robert C. Hannum, Anthony N. Cabot

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

This paper sheds light on the age-old argument as to whether poker is a game in which skill predominates over chance or vice versa. Recent work addressing the issue of skill vs. chance is reviewed. This current study considers two different scenarios to address the issue: 1) a mathematical analysis supported by computer simulations of one random player and one skilled player in Texas Hold'Em, and 2) full-table simulation games of Texas Hold'Em and Seven Card Stud. Findings for scenario 1 showed the skilled player winning 97 percent of the hands. Findings for scenario 2 further reinforced that highly skilled …


Oliver Winery And The Recipe For Values-Based Leadership: People, Product And Place, Allyson Baughman, Alexandra Schroeder, Dean Schroeder Dec 2012

Oliver Winery And The Recipe For Values-Based Leadership: People, Product And Place, Allyson Baughman, Alexandra Schroeder, Dean Schroeder

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

These three authors have collaborated to provide a comprehensive examination of a small winery business and the revelation of the necessary variables for success — financially, ethically, and environmentally. A case study of this business is presented from its inception to its current status as a small, yet growing and well regarded business. It‘s secret for success? Take care of your customers and employees, make the highest quality product, and take pride and conserve the natural resources which support the business.


Medical Malpractice--The Insurance Scene, Dunbar R. Uhthoff Dec 2012

Medical Malpractice--The Insurance Scene, Dunbar R. Uhthoff

St. John's Law Review

No abstract provided.


U.S. Drought Monitor, December 18, 2012, David Simeral Dec 2012

U.S. Drought Monitor, December 18, 2012, David Simeral

United States Agricultural Commodities in Drought Archive

Drought map of U.S. for December 18, 2012 (12/18/12) plus: U.S. crop areas experiencing drought (map), Approximate percentage of crop located in drought, by state (bar graph), Percent of crop area located in drought, past 52 weeks (line graph) for: Hay, Cattle, Winter wheat.


Relating Nanoparticle Properties To Biological Outcomes In Exposure Escalation Experiments, Trina Patel, Cecile Low-Kam, Zhaoxia Ji, Haiyuan Zhang, Tian Xia, Andre E. Nel, Jeffrey I. Zinc, Donatello Telesca Dec 2012

Relating Nanoparticle Properties To Biological Outcomes In Exposure Escalation Experiments, Trina Patel, Cecile Low-Kam, Zhaoxia Ji, Haiyuan Zhang, Tian Xia, Andre E. Nel, Jeffrey I. Zinc, Donatello Telesca

COBRA Preprint Series

A fundamental goal in nano-toxicology is that of identifying particle physical and chemical properties, which are likely to explain biological hazard. The first line of screening for potentially adverse outcomes often consists of exposure escalation experiments, involving the exposure of micro-organisms or cell lines to a battery of nanomaterials. We discuss a modeling strategy, that relates the outcome of an exposure escalation experiment to nanoparticle properties. Our approach makes use of a hierarchical decision process, where we jointly identify particles that initiate adverse biological outcomes and explain the probability of this event in terms of the particle physico-chemical descriptors. The …


Game Theory Approach To Transportation Network Vulnerability Measurement, Qixing Wang Dec 2012

Game Theory Approach To Transportation Network Vulnerability Measurement, Qixing Wang

Master's Theses

The vulnerability of a transportation network is strongly correlated with the ability of the network to withstand shocks and disruptions. A robust network with strategic redundancy allows for the redistribution or reassignment of traffic without unduly compromising system performance. As such, high-volume edges with limited alternative paths represent system vulnerabilities – a feature of transportation networks that has been exploited in the past to identify critical components. In this thesis, a mixed-strategy, two opponents, non-zero sum, combinatorial game theoretical framework are presented for measuring network vulnerability. Two solution approaches (Shortest Path Algorithm with Entropy function (SPE) & User Equilibrium Assignment …


Biohydrogen Production From Palm Oil Mill Effluent (Pome) In An Anaerobic Hybrid Bioreactor / Parviz Mohammadi, Mohammadi Parviz Dec 2012

Biohydrogen Production From Palm Oil Mill Effluent (Pome) In An Anaerobic Hybrid Bioreactor / Parviz Mohammadi, Mohammadi Parviz

Student Works (2010-2019)

The effects of various pretreatment methods on the enrichment of H2 evolving bacterial population and their hydrogen production efficiency using palm oil mill effluent (POME) as substrate were studied. Heat shock pretreatment was shown to be the most effective in enhancing the biological H2 production. Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket fixed film (UASB-FF) bioreactor is a modern bioreactor and was used to generate of biological hydrogen with the help of granulated microbial aggregates. A lab scale UASB-FF bioreactor (2.55 lit) with an external settling tank was successfully designed and operated for biohydrogen production from POME. The use of packing media in …


Disability History Month: John Goodricke The Deaf Astronomer, Linda French Dec 2012

Disability History Month: John Goodricke The Deaf Astronomer, Linda French

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.


Modeling The Effects Of The Local Environment On A Received Gnss Signal, Marshall E. Haker Dec 2012

Modeling The Effects Of The Local Environment On A Received Gnss Signal, Marshall E. Haker

Theses and Dissertations

There is an ongoing need in the GNSS community for the development of high-fidelity simulators which generate data that replicates what can truly be expected from a challenging environment such as an urban canyon or an indoor environment. The algorithm developed for use in the research in this dissertation, the Signal Decomposition and Parameterization Algorithm (SDPA), is presented in order to respond to this need. This algorithm is designed to decompose a signal received using a GNSS recording and playback system and output parameters that can be used to reconstruct the effects on the signal of the environment local to …


Applicability Of The Duplication Of Purchase Law To Gaming, Desmond Lam Dec 2012

Applicability Of The Duplication Of Purchase Law To Gaming, Desmond Lam

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

In a bid to explore the use of an empirical-based model to explain regular gaming purchases, this study applies the Duplication of Purchase Law to gaming. Developed from empirical-based marketing theory and observed in many consumer brands, the Duplication of Purchase Law states that the dominant factor of purchase duplication between two brands is their market share. Using data obtained from the U.S. Gambling Impact Study, this study found that the duplication of games played was highly correlated to their penetration rates and hence, market share. In addition, the number of sole gamblers in each game was also related to …


Assessing Discount Policies And Practices In The Casino Industry, Jordan Salmon, Anthony F. Lucas, Jim Kilby, Michael C. Dalbor Dec 2012

Assessing Discount Policies And Practices In The Casino Industry, Jordan Salmon, Anthony F. Lucas, Jim Kilby, Michael C. Dalbor

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

No abstract provided.


Improving Competitiveness Through Cooperation: Assessing The Benefits Of Cooperative Education Partnerships In Gaming Management, Helen Breen, Nerilee Hing Dec 2012

Improving Competitiveness Through Cooperation: Assessing The Benefits Of Cooperative Education Partnerships In Gaming Management, Helen Breen, Nerilee Hing

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Cooperative education partnerships between industries and universities are becoming increasingly common in response to fundamental challenges facing both sectors. Theoretically, many benefits for both partners are espoused. This paper explores these benefits and then assesses whether and how these have occurred in a leading gaming management course in Australia. It was found that benefits for industry comprised enhanced industry professionalism and legitimacy; increased professional status; better public image; control of abstract knowledge and improved industry competitiveness. For the university, key benefits have included improved educational offerings; enhanced university reputation in the discipline and for cooperative education partnerships; additional student fees …


Using Benchmarking Techniques In Academia: Building A Gaming Education Program, Susan H. Lvancevich, Daniel M. Lvancevich, Bernard N. Fried Dec 2012

Using Benchmarking Techniques In Academia: Building A Gaming Education Program, Susan H. Lvancevich, Daniel M. Lvancevich, Bernard N. Fried

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

This paper discusses the use of benchmarking techniques in building a gaming education program. Four general categories of benchmarking techniques and their applicability to gaming education are presented. A template for building a gaming education program is explained, as well as the key success factors to consider when implementing benchmarking in academia. A summary of schools currently offering gaming courses, a list of gaming topics in various functional areas that can easily be integrated into existing courses, and a list of gaming-related resources are also provided.


The Gaming Industry And The Millennium Bug, Michael L . Kasavana, Kathleen P. Brewer Dec 2012

The Gaming Industry And The Millennium Bug, Michael L . Kasavana, Kathleen P. Brewer

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

While much has been written about the Y2K bug in general, the gaming industry is among those slow to address the issue. As we quickly face the dawn of the new millennium, there are urgent issues to be addressed. This article examines the problem, major issues, potential solutions, and the impact of time constraints on the casino industry.


Two Consumption Models For United States Casino Areas Utilizing Competition And Site Attribute Variables, David M. Pearlman Dec 2012

Two Consumption Models For United States Casino Areas Utilizing Competition And Site Attribute Variables, David M. Pearlman

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

In this study, multiple regression techniques were used to build two consumption models to better understand supply and demand influences on casino revenues. The initial model contained 15 independent variables and explained 97% of the variance in revenues. However, due to assumption violations, assessing the relative role of each independent variable proved to be problematic. Subsequently, a Reduced Variable Model was developed which explained 83% of the variance, and included six independent variables. As stand-alone prediction tools, the models do not yield useful revenue estimates, due to their large standard errors of the estimate, however, they do explain relative influences …


Educating For The Gaming Industry: Need, Profile, And Suggested Schema, Leslie E. Cummings Dec 2012

Educating For The Gaming Industry: Need, Profile, And Suggested Schema, Leslie E. Cummings

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

As legalized gambling becomes increasingly widespread and competitive, operators seek employees who understand its unique culture and demands. Today, few baccalaureate programs offer gaming management education. Gaming subject areas for college programs span three content spheres: (a) gaming and games themselves; (b) gaming interfaces with other hospitality subjects (lodging, accounting); and (c) the gaming/hospitality environment (regulation, economics). In a given academic program, gaming content integration can be measured along a continuum, from nonexistent, to somewhat integrated within existing courses, to comprising a central educational focus.


Analysis Of Video Poker, Edward Gordon Dec 2012

Analysis Of Video Poker, Edward Gordon

UNLV Gaming Research & Review Journal

Several analyses of video poker reported expected payouts in the vicinity of 99.6 percent. The analysis techniques they used were critically reviewed to validate those favorable results for Jacks or Better video poker. Improvements in playing strategy were discovered during the validation. The performance is now 99.7 percent expected payout. Wong (1988) called attention to an error in the technique earlier analysts used. However, it was found that this error amounted to only 0.1 percent in the overall expected payout.


Mentorship Modes: Strategies For Influencing Interactive Learners, Brad Gyori Dec 2012

Mentorship Modes: Strategies For Influencing Interactive Learners, Brad Gyori

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

In the age of the Internet, students are clamoring for immersive and participatory learning experiences, but how can teachers share autonomy without losing control of their classrooms? In an effort to address this important question, this article suggests three mentorship modes that educators can employ in order to effectively engage with today’s interactive learners. Lecture-based instruction is a single mode form of teaching in which information is disseminated by a lone authority-figure. In contrast, learning-centered mentorship is a three-mode process in which autonomy is shared and authority flows in multiple directions at once: bottom-up (modeling), laterally (collaborating), and top-down (organizing …


The Moral Foundations Of Ethical Leadership, Joseph Hester, Don R. Killian Dec 2012

The Moral Foundations Of Ethical Leadership, Joseph Hester, Don R. Killian

The Journal of Values-Based Leadership

Hester and Killian stress that principled leadership does not necessarily require discarding past practices; rather, they emphasize the importance of using what is good about the past, eliminating self-interest, and injecting passion into contemporary, valuesbased leadership. Passion, as used by the authors in this sense, refers to neither rage nor anger; rather, it is an excitement and enthusiasm that comes from leading with vision, integrity, and respect for others. Subsequently, when such passion is coupled with moral purpose, the idea of serving others, and building and sustaining relationships, the organization will inevitably experience positive growth — one person at a …