Digital Commons Network^™

Predicting Cognitive Workload With Measures From Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (Fnirs) And Heart Rate, John Duany

HIM 1990-2015

The objective of this study was to assess low to high levels of Cognitive Workload by measuring heart rate and cortical blood flow in real-time. Four conditions were implemented into a within-subjects experimental design. Two conditions of difficulty and two conditions of trial order were used to illicit different levels of workload which will be analyzed with psychophysiological equipment. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) has become more prominent for measuring the blood oxygenation levels in the prefrontal cortex of individuals operating in hazardous work environments, students with learning disabilities, and in research for military training. This is due to the fNIR …

Comparison Of Methods To Evaluate Chitosan As An Antimicrobial Against Listeria Spp. Cultures, Scott Hartley

All Theses

The antimicrobial properties of a chitosan-coated vacuum-packaged pouch were tested against Listeria monocytogenes (LM) inoculated on frankfurters. A 1.5% chitosan solution was successfully coated onto a corona-treated poly/nylon based film and then heat-sealed to form a pouch. An initial 5 log CFU/mL population of LM was used to inoculate a frankfurter in the pouch, which was then vacuum-sealed and stored at 4¡ and 13¡ C for a period of 8 weeks, with bacteria enumeration performed on weekly intervals. An uncoated pouch was tested as a control. It was found that the chitosan-coated pouches did not exhibit any antimicrobial properties against …

Controlled Formation Of Emissive Silver Nanoclusters Using Rationally Designed Metal-Binding Proteins, Vasily A. Morozov, Michael Y. Ogawa

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The metal-binding properties of rationally designed, synthetic proteins were used to prepare a series of emissive silver nanoclusters having predictable sizes and emission energies. Metal-binding a-helical coiled coils were designed to exist as peptide trimers, tetramers, and hexamers and found to uniquely bind 6, 8, and 12 Ag+ ions, respectively. Subsequent treatment with a chemical reducing agent produced a series of peptide-bound Ag-0 nanoclusters that display a strong visible fluorescence whose emission energies depend on the number of bound metal ions in excellent agreement with theory.

What's In A Name?, Stephen J. Langendorfer

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

No abstract provided.

Gait Variablility Is Altered In Older Adults When Listening To Auditory Stimuli With Differing Temporal Structures, Jeffrey P. Kaipust, Denise Mcgrath, Mukul Mukherjee, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

Gait variability in the context of a deterministic dynamical system may be quantified using nonlinear time series analyses that characterize the complexity of the system. Pathological gait exhibits altered gait variability. It can be either too periodic and predictable, or too random and disordered, as it is the case with aging. While gait therapies often focus on restoration of linear measures such as gait speed or stride length, we propose that the goal of gait therapy should be to restore optimal gait variability, which exhibits chaotic fluctuations and is the balance between predictability and complexity. In this context, our purpose …

Vascular Occlusion Affects Gait Variability Patterns Of Healthy Younger And Older Individuals, Sara A. Myers, Jason Johanning, Iraklis Pipinos, Kendra K. Schmid, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

Insufficient blood flow is one possible mechanism contributing to altered gait patterns in lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Previously, our laboratory found that induced occlusion alters gait variability patterns in healthy young individuals. However the effect of age was not explored. The purpose of this study was to account for age by investigating gait variability following induced vascular occlusion in healthy older individuals and to identify amount of change from baseline to post vascular occlusion between younger and older individuals. Thirty healthy younger individuals and 30 healthy older individuals walked on a treadmill during baseline and post vascular occlusion …

Tested In And Placed In: Are Sixth-Grade Boys And Girls Completing Early Challenge Math Coursework Before They Are Ready?, David C. Hemphil, John W. Hill

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the algebra readiness outcomes of randomly selected sixth grade boys (n = 15) and girls (n = 15) who tested into and completed early challenge math coursework compared to the algebra readiness outcomes of randomly selected same school sixth grade boys (n = 15) and girls (n = 15) who tested below the admission threshold but were placed into and completed early challenge math coursework based on teachers’ recommendations to determine if these students, both tested in and placed in, were enrolled into higher-level math courses before they were ready—a growing concern …

Video Games: Exploring The Impact Of New Age Products On The Future Of Education, Tim Penrose

Education Masters

While there is a great deal of theoretical support to back the use of video games in education, however, the experimental support is varied. This study asks how digital games can be used to support reading, writing, and collaborative communication. Research was conducted using students and teachers and data was collected using questionnaires, field notes, and assessments. Findings revealed that game design permits an environment in which students can refine the skills necessary to become a successful 21st century learner. Implications that arise are obstacles teachers will face attempting to integrate games such as time and student ability. Additionally, further …

Factors Influencing The Distribution And Structure Of Tropical Vascular Epiphyte Communities At Multiple Scales, Carrie Woods

All Dissertations

Understanding the factors that determine species distributions is a central question in ecology. Niche-based theories stress the importance of environmental heterogeneity in influencing species distributions while neutral-based theories emphasize the effects of dispersal limitation. The relative importance of these factors in influencing species distributions may depend on spatial scale - deterministic factors may be more important at small spatial scales where fine-scale habitat factors become more relevant and stochastic factors may be more important at larger spatial scales where dispersal limitation becomes more relevant. I examined the influence of deterministic and stochastic factors on the distribution and structure of vascular …

Recurrent Modification Of A Conserved Cis-Regulatory Element Underlies Fruit Fly Pigmentation Diversity, William A. Rogers, Joseph R. Salomone, David J. Tacy, Eric M. Camino, Kristen A. Davis, Mark Rebeiz, Thomas M. Williams

Biology Faculty Publications

The development of morphological traits occurs through the collective action of networks of genes connected at the level of gene expression. As any node in a network may be a target of evolutionary change, the recurrent targeting of the same node would indicate that the path of evolution is biased for the relevant trait and network. Although examples of parallel evolution have implicated recurrent modification of the same gene and cis-regulatory element (CRE), little is known about the mutational and molecular paths of parallel CRE evolution. InDrosophila melanogaster fruit flies, the Bric-à-brac (Bab) transcription factors control the development …

Microscopic Surface Textures Created By Interfacial Flow Instabilities, Jing Gu

HIM 1990-2015

In nature, microscopic surface textures impact useful function, such as the drag reduction of shark skin (Dean & Bhushan, 2010) and superhydrophobicity of the lotus leaf(Pan, Kota, Mabry, & Tuteja, 2013). In this study, we explore these phenomena by re-creating microscopic surface textures via the method of interfacial flow instability in drying polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) acetone solutions. In general, PVDF films can be made using either spin coating or electrospray deposition with various weight concentrations in acetone. In order to study the morphology of the porous structure of PVDF films, wet deposition samples were fabricated by spin coating or near-field …

Interaction Between Human Resources Management And Ohs: Preparing Future Managers, Sylvie Gravel, Monique Lortie, Henriette Bilodeau, Jessica Dubé

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Plusieurs disciplines, dont l’ergonomie, la médecine, la toxicologie, l’andragogie et bien d’autres, ont contribué à l’avancement des connaissances en santé et sécurité au travail (SST). Malgré les avancées scientifiques, un défi demeure, celui de développer les habiletés des gestionnaires et de sensibiliser ces derniers à leur rôle dans la prise en charge des mesures correctrices et préventives en matière de santé et de sécurité. Une équipe de professeurs de l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) a proposé de relever ce défi en constituant une banque d’études de cas destinée à l’enseignement aux futurs gestionnaires. Les cas ont été élaborés à …

Taking Steps To Raise Social Mobility In Singapore, David Chan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

In a commentary, SMU Behavioural Sciences Institute Director Professor David Chan discussed a holistic approach to increasing social mobility in Singapore. This involves going beyond income inequality, measuring mobility, improving jobs prospects and integrating policies.

So You Want To Have A Second Child? Second Child Bias And The Justification-Suppression Model Of Prejudice In Family Responsibilities Discrimination, Kyle C. Velte

Buffalo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Nutri One-On-One: The Assessment And Evaluation Of A Single One-On-One Nutritional Coaching In Patients Affected By Metabolic Syndrome, Jennifer L. King

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

The Nutri One-on-One Program's aim was to positively modify participants' nutritional habits and lifestyles through a brief one-on-one health coaching session, which was conducted within a primary healthcare setting at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's Clinics. It is documented that 70% of deaths in the U.S. result from complications secondary to chronic diseases of metabolic syndrome. The participants were selected by physicians and classified as suffering from one or more of the five indicators of metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, elevated serum triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance. Evidence shows that health coaching positively assists individuals in …

Keyhole Garden A La Tica: Organic And Sustainable, August 2013, Sara Arias, Emily Bissett, Constanza Carney, Lillie Dao, Alejandro Garcia, Zuhra Malik

Monteverde Institute: Culture, Community, and Health

This research explored agricultural and gardening practices in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica through anthropological methods and quantitative soil measurements to make adaptations to the keyhole garden technology.

Weight Gain In Pregnancy And Pre-Menopausal Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study, Arash Ardalan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: The risk of breast cancer increases transiently after pregnancy and then falls to a lower level than for age-matched nulliparous women. Higher levels of estrogen are known as the primary reason. Several pregnancy characteristics are thought to be confounding the above link; however, except for the age at first pregnancy no other pregnancy-related factor has been proved to be significant. Specifically, it has not been established that an excessive weight gain in pregnancy is linked to the maternal risk of breast cancer.

Objectives: To identify independent influence of weight gain in pregnancy on the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer …

Efficacy Of Gold Silica Nanoshells And Gold Nanorods For Photothermal Therapy Of Human Glioma Spheroids, Suyog Jung Chhetri

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Gold-based nanoparticles including gold-silica nano-spheres and gold nano-rods have been investigated for a number of therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The ability of these nanoparticles to convert light into heat energy makes them particularly appealing for photothermal therapy in which cancer cells are destroyed via light-induced heat generation. The overall objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of gold-silica nano-spheres and gold nano-rods in an in vitro system consisting of human brain tumor (glioma) spheroids.

Delivery of the nanoparticles to the spheroids was accomplished using murine macrophages. Nanoparticles (spheres or rods) were incubated with macrophages for 24 hours. Thereafter, …

Preventative Behavioral Parent Training In A Primary Care Context: Initial Evaluation Of A Universal Prevention Program For Disruptive Behavior Disorders, Jessica L. Malmberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

One of the biggest challenges parents face is effectively managing their child’s engagement in various disruptive behaviors including noncompliance, tantrums, and aggression. Typically when children begin exhibiting disruptive behaviors, parents will express their concerns to their pediatricians; however, there are significant barriers to parents gaining adequate guidance due to clinic time constraints, insurance reimbursement issues, and the limited training pediatricians receive in addressing these concerns. As such, children are generally referred to outside mental health clinics where additional barriers arise including waitlist delays and mental health stigmatization. The treatment for conduct problems (CP) that has proven most effective is referred …

Ultrafast Dynamics And Two-Photon Absorption Properties Of Chromophores At Interfaces, Semere Ghebru Bairu

Dissertations

Materials with large two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-sections found applications in several areas such as sensor protection, 3D micro/nano fabrication, photodynamic therapy, optical data-storage, multi-photon sensing, multi-photon microscopy and imaging. Several successful research strategies were developed in literature to achieve 2PA materials with enhanced cross-sections. However, the obtained cross-sections are far from adequate and there is a need to develop new strategies. In a parallel development, numerous research efforts were focused on studying the dynamics of interfacial charge-transfer (ICT) across chromophoresemiconductor interfaces, especially in the context of dye-sensitized solar cells. While investigating the fundamentals of ICT, it was found that these …

Genetic And Morphological Variation In Taeniatherum Caput-Medusae (Medusahead): Taxomonic Diversity, Geographic Origins, Multiple Introductions And Founder Effects, Morgan Lindsey Peters

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species are novel to a region, thus their timely and accurate identification is a critical first step in recognizing and managing the threats that they may present in their new habitats. Accurate identification of an introduced species in its new range can prove difficult however for a species that displays taxonomic complexity in its native range, i.e. consists of multiple, morphologically similar subspecies.

Across its native range, Taeniatherum caput-medusae (medusahead) exhibits taxonomic complexity. Three subspecies have been recognized: T. caput-medusae ssp. caput-medusae, T. caput-medusae ssp.asperum, and T. caput-medusae ssp. crinitum. While subspecies …

The River Otter In Idaho: Reproductive And Population Parameters And Liver Concentrations Of Environmental Contaminants, Gina Diggs

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

To obtain current data on the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) population in Idaho, licensed trappers were mandated to surrender river otter carcasses through provisions of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s mandatory harvest report. Throughout the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 trapping seasons, 237 river otter carcasses were collected. Necropsies were performed to assess age and sex, general body condition, reproductive rates, and concentrations of environmental contaminants in the livers. Reproductive rates were determined by counting corpora lutea and blastocysts in female river otters. Livers were dissected and concentrations of environmental contaminants were determined for the following …

Relationships Between F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Participants’ Roles And Their Educational And Degree Choices, Christine T. Chang

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The annual robotics competition that is held by the non-profit organization For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (better known as FIRST) implicitly requires that the multifaceted teams subdivide in order to ensure that sufficient team resources are committed to all areas of the competition. The self-stated goal of FIRST is to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This study examines the relationship between FIRST participants’ specific roles on their teams and their subsequent academic and career pursuits. Study participants (N = 174) consisting of FIRST Robotics Competition alumni responded to an …

Multimodal Wearable Sensors For Human-Machine Interfaces, Mark Nolan

Doctoral

Certain areas of the body, such as the hands, eyes and organs of speech production, provide high-bandwidth information channels from the conscious mind to the outside world. The objective of this research was to develop an innovative wearable sensor device that records signals from these areas more conveniently than has previously been possible, so that they can be harnessed for communication. A novel bioelectrical and biomechanical sensing device, the wearable endogenous biosignal sensor (WEBS), was developed and tested in various communication and clinical measurement applications.

One ground-breaking feature of the WEBS system is that it digitises biopotentials almost …

Adult Permanent (Extracted) Teeth As A Source Of Dental Pulp-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Dpsc): A Pilot Study, Charles Hill

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) may be derived from a variety of adult human tissues, including dental pulp from extracted or exfoliated teeth. Evidence suggests differences in both the quality and quantity of the dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DPSC) obtained from different sources, such as primary or "baby teeth" and adult, permanent teeth. This study aimed to evaluate the potential to obtain DPSC from intact, vital permanent teeth, and characterize the potential isolates using a randomized selection of active dental patients from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine (UNLVSODM). DPSC were extracted, isolated, cultured and characterized …

Investigation Of Storage-Phosphor Autoradiography For The Rapid Quantitative Screening Of Air Filters For Emergency Response Purposes, Athena Marie Gallardo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Past nuclear accidents, such as Chernobyl, resulted in a large release of radionuclides into the atmosphere. Radiological assessment of the vicinity of the site of the incident is vital to assess the exposure levels and dose received by the population and workers. Therefore, it is critical to thoroughly understand the situation and risks associated with a particular event in a timely manner in order to properly manage the event. Current atmospheric radiological assessments of alpha emitting radioisotopes include acquiring large quantities of air samples, chemical separation of radionuclides, sample mounting, counting through alpha spectrometry, and analysis of the data. The …

Paleoecology Of Late Pleistocene Megaherbivores: Stable Isotope Reconstruction Of Environment, Climate, And Response, Aubrey Mae Bonde

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Late Pleistocene megaherbivore communities of the Pacific and Mountain West states of California and Nevada are under-analyzed in regard to ecological function (diet, mobility, niche partitioning, and range of ecological tolerance). Stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool that is known to recover primary paleodiet and paleoenvironmental information from biogenic materials, such as enamel and dentin. This dissertation explores the use of carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in Late Pleistocene (40-10 Ka) megaherbivore teeth to gain a better understanding of inter- and intra-specific behavior and reconstruct Late Pleistocene ecosystems of California and Nevada. Radiocarbon dates exist for most of the …

Alternations Of Nmda And Gabab Receptor Function In Development: A Potential Animal Model Of Schizophrenia, Monica Bolton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder that affects up to 3% of the world population. The behavioral symptoms are categorized into positive and negative symptoms, which appear during late adolescence/early adulthood. Unfortunately, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease are poorly understood. Several hypotheses exist to explain mechanisms contributing to these behavioral alterations. One model proposes that a reduced function of the NMDA glutamate receptor on specific GABAergic interneurons may be responsible for deficits in schizophrenia. Post-mortem investigations provide evidence of reductions in both glutamate and GABA-related proteins in patients with schizophrenia. Further, GABAergic interneurons that are activated …

The Impact Of Sexual Arousal On The Category Specificity Of Women's Visual Attention To Erotic Stimuli, Sarah Jones

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Research has shown that women have a much less category-specific pattern of visual attention to erotic stimuli than do men. That is, when simultaneously presented with male and female erotic stimuli, heterosexual women attend much more evenly to both male and female erotic stimuli than do heterosexual men, who attend almost exclusively to female stimuli. The present study investigated one proposed explanation for women's more diffuse visual attention patterns - that erotic female images have arousal value for heterosexual women. To test this hypothesis, heterosexual women were presented with either a 12-minute neutral, non-arousing video (n = 19) or a …

Relationship Of Global Dna Methylation With Cardiovascular Fitness And Body Composition, Michael Steele Jarrett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Global DNA Methylation (GDM), an epigenomic modification has been linked to the development of Cardiovascular Disease and its risk factors. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a significant correlation between GDM and cardiovascular fitness, as well as, measures of body composition. Methodology: 26 apparently healthy, adults (11 males) completed a physical activity and diet questionnaire, as well as, had a small blood sample (600μL) collected via finger prick for the determination of GDM. Body composition was assessed by means of a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, while cardiovascular fitness was evaluated by the …