Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Utilizing Simulation To Promote Content Knowledge Acquisition And Problem-Solving Skills In A Stem Classroom, Jui-Ling Chiang

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This sequential explanatory mixed-methods design study explores the impact of simulation in promoting content knowledge acquisition and problem-solving skills in a STEM classroom. It also examines students' background factors and their relationship to the use of simulation. This study used the Web-Based Interactive Landform Simulation Model -- Grand Canyon (WILSIM-GC) as an instrument for developing content knowledge and problem-solving skills through pre- and posttests, a learning attitude scale, and focus group interviews. A quasi-experimental design was used to measure content knowledge growth and problem-solving skill growth at two separate times. Regression was conducted to examine the relationship between students' background …

The Association Between Body Esteem And School Engagement : The Role Of Victimization As A Mediator, Jacqueline Klossing

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Little research has examined the how body esteem impacts the educational environment for students, yet there are copious amounts of research indicating that body image and body esteem is a defining experience for individuals, particularly adolescents. The current study collected data in a sample of 669 middle school students from northern Illinois using self-report measures to examine the relation between body esteem and school engagement, with the prediction that victimization (both global and appearance-based) plays a mediating role in this relationship. The associations between these variables were explored, as well as the role gender plays in these relations. Results indicated …

Monitoring Pollen Counts And Pollen Allergy Index Using Satellite Observations In East Coast Of The United States, Murat Cagatay Kececi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Allergic diseases have become increasingly common over the world during the last four decades, and they are affecting millions of people. Pollination is an important process in the life cycle of plants. However, pollen exposure is associated with allergic diseases such as asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever). As a result, the total annual expenditure for asthma-associated morbidity is about $56 billion in the United States, and the overall cost of allergic diseases is over $18 billion annually. For allergic rhinitis, the annual medical cost is approximately $3.4 billion. The intensity and frequency of the pollen exposures can be …

Effect Of Grazing Pressure On Cattle Grazing Cool Season Annual Forages, Brooke Brunsvig

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ruminants can use plant fiber to produce food products that provide nourishment to humans. However, a precise understanding of specific plants selected by grazing ruminants remains elusive. Many long- and short-term factors impact cattle grazing behavior. Ultimately, grazing behavior can affect forage available for grazing, nutrient density of forage, dry matter intake, and animal performance. A myriad of grazing management strategies have been developed utilizing animal behavior to allow more efficient use of forage resources. Many management strategies based on manipulation of grazing behavior are simple and cost effective. Optimal performance of individual animals and amount of animal products produced …

The Cattle Dung Arthropod Community In Eastern South Dakota: Their Colonization, Impact On Degradation, And Response To Rangeland Management, Jacob Pecenka

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cattle grazing operations are an important industry throughout the world and a vital component of the economy of the Northern Great Plains. Rangeland management is important to ensure that cattle grazing remains not only profitable but also environmentally sustainable. Conventionally managed rangeland systems that practice continuous grazing and repeated applications of chemicals such as avermectins pose a risk to the continuing productivity of rangelands. These practices have ecological consequences, primarily to the arthropod community that inhabits cattle dung pats. This diverse community works together to recycle dung pats and make the nutrients in dung accessible to the surrounding plant community, …

Raman Spectroscopic Analysis Of Oral Cells In The High Wavenumber Region, Fiona Lyng, Luis Felipe C.S Carvalho, Franck Bonnier, Cláudio Tellez, Laurita Dos Santos, Kate O´Callaghan, Jeff O'Sullivan, Luis Eduardo S. Soares, Hugh Byrne

Articles

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Land Use And Land Cover In Public Lands Of The Northwestern Great Plains And High Plains Ecoregions And The Implications For Grassland Birds, Dawn L. Siemonsma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Loss and degradation of grassland habitat are driving forces that contribute to widespread declines of grassland birds in the United States. Many studies have evaluated habitat needs for the conservation of grassland birds, but the relative contribution of public lands in representing and maintaining avian biodiversity remains poorly understood. Having a better understanding of the role that publicly managed grasslands play in the conservation of grassland bird habitat is important for assessing the value of the investment the American public makes in these lands. Therefore, I investigated spatial relations among variations in amounts and distributions of publicly owned and managed …

Effect Of Pre-Marketing Management Practices On Shrink Loss In Lambs, Ann Kolthoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of three common lamb pre-marketing management practices on live weight shrink loss. Additionally a producer survey was conducted to assess current marketing practices in the North Central region of the US. In these experiments, Exp. 1 (feeder lambs) and 2 (finished lambs), 60 commercial Polypay lambs (Exp. 1: 37.65 ± 0.30 kg of BW; Exp. 2: 52.56 ± 0.14 kg of BW) were allocated for each experiment to 3 treatment groups (n=20 lambs) in a 3 x 3 Latin square design. Treatments were the pre-marketing practices: original pen (ORG), transition pen (TRANS), …

Understanding The Effect Of Bvdv On Innate Immune Response Of Neutrophils, Neelu Singh Thakur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of the highly prevalent and economically important diseases of cattle industry worldwide. The two major consequences of this disease are persistent infection and immunosuppression. Several studies have been done to determine the underline mechanisms of BVDV-induced immunosuppression targeting antigen presenting cells, adaptive immune system cells and cytokine gene expression. However, very little research has been done to determine the effect of BVDV on neutrophils. Neutrophils are one of the most abundant while blood cells (WBC) in the peripheral blood, which play a critical role in the innate as well as adaptive immune response. …

Relationship Of The Fractal And Chemical Characteristics Of Self-Assembled Natural Organic Matter, Dennis K. Gibson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Natural Organic Matter (NOM) is a heterogeneous mixture formed by the degradation of organic substances during early diagenesis in surficial environments. It has been shown that the interaction of the components that comprise this mixture has a significant impact on its microbial mineralization to CO₂. The extent of NOM selfassembly is emerging as an important factor in understanding its role in the global geochemical carbon cycle, and it is beginning to appear that it may be more important than the chemical composition of a sample. The overall goal of this research is to establish NOM’s self-assembled “architecture” and …

Evaluation Of The Green Microalga Monoraphidium Sp. Dek19 Growth Utilizing Ethanol Plant Side Streams And Potential For Biofuel Production, David Michael Colson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This research was conducted to evaluate the potential for growth of Monoraphidium sp. Dek19 using side streams from an ethanol plant for culture medium. Additionally, the potential of using enzymes to break down the cell wall material to release fermentable sugars and oil was examined. The ethanol streams selected were methanator influent, methanator effluent, and thin stillage. This species of microalgae has been previously studied and found to have the ability to grow in and remediate the effluent water from the DeKalb Sanitary District (DSD). The Monoraphidium sp. Dek19 was grown in various concentrations of the ethanol plant side streams …

Goals Of Exclusive Breastfeeding And The Effectiveness Of Programs And Initiatives In Attaining Them, Natalie Scott

Senior Honors Theses

Over recent years, breastfeeding has gained renewed significance in research and practice. Both in the United States and around the world, especially in poor countries that do not have easy access to quality healthcare, breastfeeding has been shown to dramatically and positively affect the health and lifespan of infants. However, there is still a low prevalence of effective breastfeeding practices universally. Even with the presence of global programs and goals that are geared toward exclusive breastfeeding habits, global rates are lower than what is desired. There are various determinants of breastfeeding that factor into a woman’s decision and practice of …

Antibiotic Overuse: The History, Consequences, And Possible Solutions, Brooke A. Bost

Senior Honors Theses

Antibiotic overuse has become alarmingly accepted in the developed world. This overuse is leading to drug resistance in microbes, resulting in bacterial infections that are impossible to treat. Steps must be taken to reverse the damage that has already been done and prevent further resistance from developing. This thesis will examine the context and societal situations that led to this acceptance of antibiotic overuse and misuse seen in both health care professionals and the public, the biochemical and genetic pathways that allow a microbe to develop drug resistance, the various methods that have been suggested by experts to prevent and …

The Interactive Effects Of Annual Climatic Variability And Rangeland Management On The Reproductive Success Of Dickcissels (Spiza Americana), Lauren A. Spahr

Senior Honors Theses

Grassland songbird populations have declined due to poor rangeland management and habitat fragmentation. Few studies have taken into account variation in climatic conditions in tallgrass prairie systems when determining the factors contributing to songbird reproductive success. During a six year study we measured reproductive success in Dickcissels on five rangeland treatments. We estimated daily survival rates (DSRs) and linked estimates of daily survival to rangeland management type and climate data. DSRs were best predicted by the model including mean temperature, winter season precipitation, and interactions, which had 7.5 times more support than the constant model. Mean annual temperature was negatively …

Patent Protection For Crispr: An Elsi Review, Jacob S. Sherkow

Articles & Chapters

The revolutionary gene-editing technology, CRISPR, has raised numerous ethical, legal, and social concerns over its use. The technology is also subject to an increasing patent thicket that raises similar issues concerning patent licensing and research development. This essay reviews several of these challenges that have come to the fore since CRISPR’s development in 2012. In particular, the lucre and complications that have followed the CRISPR patent dispute may affect scientific collaboration among academic research institutions. Relatedly, universities’ adoption of “surrogate licensors” may also hinder downstream research. At the same time, research scientists and their institutions have also used CRISPR patents …

Disease Prevalence And Health Determinants In Nevada, Takashi Yamashita, Roberto Millar

Social Health of Nevada Reports

In this report, we use recent data to describe the health of Nevada and update the previous report (Monnat, 2012) on health outcomes and health determinants in the Silver State. Data for this report are mainly obtained from the County Health Rankings, America’s Health Rankings, and the 2016 Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity report.

In line with the previous report by Monnat (2012), we reference Nevada’s disease prevalence in relation to the U.S. average and other states, as well as disease distribution among counties in Nevada. We also compaire health indicators in …

Environment And Sustainability In Nevada, Jennifer Stevens, Genevieve Minter, Robert Futrell

Social Health of Nevada Reports

When the inaugural Earth Day launched the first environmental decade in the U.S. more than forty years ago, protecting our air, water, land and other natural resources seemed a relatively straightforward task. Environmental polluters and exploiters would be brought to heel by tough laws. The U.S. and other industrialized nations responded to quality of life concerns associated with environmental degradation by adopting dozens of major environmental and resource policies and creating new institutions such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to manage environmental programs. Following these national developments, states and local communities began systematic efforts to address environmental problems.

What …

Infusion Of Essentail Oils In Agarose Gels To Create Antimicrobial Surfaces, Simran Guron

Honors College Theses

The current use of antibiotics is very excessive in multiple settings, from treating patients to being present in cleaning products. This overuse of antibiotics is resulting in multiple consequences, ranging from having a negative impact on human health to breeding antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms. Antimicrobial surfaces are useful today to aid in sterilization, especially in the medical setting. This would help prevent the spread of infection of microorganisms in these settings. In our research, agarose acts as the antimicrobial surface and essential oils would act as the solution incorporated into the surface that has the antimicrobial properties. Agarose is a …

Mental Disorders And Associated Factors Among Adolescents In Juvenile Detention, Stewart Mbelwa

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: The number of children and adolescents admitted in Dar es Salaam juvenile centers due to misbehavior and criminal offences has risen from 20 to 30 per month. Increasing aberrant behaviors in children have been linked to mental disorders. Assessment of presence mental health disorders as the main cause of these behaviors would be important to restore mental health of children and assist the system to impose a fair trial.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the presence of mental disorders and associated factors among children and adolescents within Dar es Salaam juvenile systems and explore factors that may affect …

Comparative Proteomic Analyses Of The Parietal Lobe From Rhesus Monkeys Fed A High-Fat/Sugar Diet With And Without Resveratrol Supplementation, Relative To A Healthy Diet: Insights Into The Roles Of Unhealthy Diets And Resveratrol On Function, Aaron M. Swomley, Judy C. Triplett, Jeriel T. Keeney, Govind Warrier, Kevin J. Pearson, Julie A. Mattison, Rafael De Cabo, Jian Cai, Jon B. Klein, D. Allan Butterfield

Chemistry Faculty Publications

A diet consisting of a high intake of saturated fat and refined sugars is characteristic of a Western-diet and has been shown to have a substantial negative effect on human health. Expression proteomics were used to investigate changes to the parietal lobe proteome of rhesus monkeys consuming either a high fat and sugar (HFS) diet, a HFS diet supplemented with resveratrol (HFS+RSV), or a healthy control diet for 2 years. Here we discuss the modifications in the levels of 12 specific proteins involved in various cellular systems including metabolism, neurotransmission, structural integrity, and general cellular signaling following a nutritional intervention. …

A Mathematical Investigation On Tumor-Immune Dynamics: The Impact Of Vaccines On The Immune Response, Jonathan Quinonez, Neethi Dasu, Mahboob Qureshi

College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUN) Publications and Research

Mathematical models analyzing tumor-immune interactions provide a framework by which to address specific scenarios in regard to tumor-immune dynamics. Important aspects of tumor-immune surveillance to consider is the elimination of tumor cells from a host’s cell-mediated immunity as well as the implications of vaccines derived from synthetic antigen. In present studies, our mathematical model examined the role of synthetic antigen to the strength of the immune system. The constructed model takes into account accepted knowledge of immune function as well as prior work done by de Pillis et al. All equations describing tumor-immune growth, antigen presentation, immune response, and interaction …

An Insight Into The Superior Performance Of A Heterogeneous Gold Nanocatalyst Supported By A Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes Compared To Titanium Dioxide And Amorphous Carbon For The Green Aerobic Oxidation Of Aromatic Alcohols, Anne Shanahan, Mary Mcnamara, Hugh Byrne, James A. Sullivan

Articles

Gold nanocomposites based on three supports, single wall carbon nanotubes, carbon black and TiO2, were prepared using an in-situ reduction technique and characterized. They were tested for their suitability as heterogeneous catalysts in the green aerobic oxidation of 1-phenylethanol, 2-phenylethanol and benzylalcohol of industrial importance. For all reactions, the use of single wall carbon nanotubes as supports resulted in superior reaction efficiency and specificity for aldehyde to that of TiO2 and carbon black. The gold nanocatalysts can be reused over several reaction cycles with a minimal degeneration in catalytic activity. The activity of the gold nanoparticle catalyst was related to …

A Systematic Review On The Efficacy Of Iontophoresis As A Treatment For Lateral Epicondylitis, James M. Mckivigan, Brent Yamashita, Derek Smith

College of Health & Human Services (TUN) Publications and Research

Background and purpose: It is still inconclusive which method of iontophoresis delivers the most medication deepest through the skin, and therefore most effective in treating lateral epicondylitis. The purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the efficacy of treatments for lateral epicondylitis using iontophoresis.

Method: The review included articles from peer-reviewed journals with sufficient data related to the purpose and focus of the study. Inclusion criteria included randomized control trials, cohort studies, case studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and pilot studies published since 2000.

Results: Fourteen relevant studies were identified. Twelve were experimental in vivo studies, two …

The Impact Of Conditional Cash Transfers On Nutrition: Evidence From Mexico, Natalie Kronebusch

Economics Honors Projects

In this paper, I study the effect of Oportunidades, a conditional cash transfer program in Mexico, on the micronutrient and macronutrient levels of program recipients. Overall, I find that Oportunidades has a positive, significant impact on micronutrient acquisition for Oportunidades beneficiaries. Program participants consume 20.5% more vitamins and 10.1% more minerals than individuals living in non-treatment households. This change could be critical for reducing rates of micronutrient deficiencies in low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, I conclude that although Oportunidades induces higher micronutrient consumption, program recipients also consume higher levels of calories, fat, and sodium, all of which could be …

Encouraging Young Nevadans To Choose And Complete Stem Degrees: A Choice And Retention Perspective On Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics Workforce Development, Matthew L. Bernacki, Harsha N. Perera

Policy Issues in Nevada Education: Policy Papers

No abstract provided.

Supporting Stem In Early Childhood Education, Jennifer Buchter, Maryssa Kucskar, Conrad Oh-Young, Jenna Welgarz-Ward, Jeff Gelfer

Policy Issues in Nevada Education: Policy Papers

No abstract provided.

Career Handbook, Unlv Career Services

Career Handbook

The job search, no matter what step you are on, can be a daunting and intimidating process. We want you to know that you are not alone in this journey. Since the day you arrived on campus, you have been surrounded by the support of family, friends, professors, staff, and peers. As you move into the next stage of your professional journey, we want you to know that you have the support of Career Services, the Alumni Association, and all of the employers who are part of the Hire a Rebel family to mentor, guide, and walk with you through …

A First Look Into The Influence Of Triathlon Wetsuit On Resting Blood Pressure And Heart Rate Variability, A. Prado, Janet S. Dufek, James W. Navalta, Nancy Lough, John A. Mercer

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing a wetsuit on resting cardiovascular measures (blood pressure (BP), heart rate variability (HRV)). The influence of position (upright, prone) and wetsuit size were also explored. Participants (n=12 males, 33.3±12.1 years) had BP and HRV measured during six resting conditions: standing or prone while not wearing a wetsuit (NWS), wearing the smallest (SWS), or largest (LWS) wetsuit (based upon manufacturer guidelines). Heart rate was recorded continuously over 5-mins; BP was measured three times per condition. HRV was represented by the ratio of low (LF) and high (HF) frequency (LF/HF …

Collaborating With Teaching Faculty On Transparent Assignment Design, Melissa Bowles-Terry, John C. Watts, Pat Hawthorne, Patricia Iannuzzi

Library Faculty Research

In light of a campus-wide curricular change at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the University Libraries created Faculty Institutes to build capacity for effective teaching and assessment practices campus-wide. The UNLV Libraries Faculty Institutes are multi-day workshops designed and delivered by librarians to help teaching faculty create courses and assignments that are research-rich and closely aligned with the newly launched General Education learning outcomes. This chapter provides the situational factors leading to the overhaul of General Education at UNLV and how librarians leveraged this opportunity to maximize their role as experts in information literacy and instructional design. This …

Anthropometric Measures Of Hadza Forager Children And Juveniles: Implications For Anthropology And Human Biology, Elle Ford, Alyssa N. Crittenden

McNair Poster Presentations

Understanding growth trajectories during child development is important for the fields of human biology, public health, medicine, and evolutionary medicine. To date, the majority of current references for childhood development and health are primarily derived from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To ensure a child is developing properly, is equipped with proper nutrition, and will sustain a healthy life through adolescence and adulthood, these measurements and standards are necessary. The current study aims to test whether or not these standards are applicable in non-industrial small-scale societies where differences from western populations …