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The Road Ahead: An Occupational Therapy Manual To Infant Development For Parents In The Nicu, Nicole Suzuki-Uyeno

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Occupational therapists have been collaborating with the parents of our tiniest patients in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for quite some time. They have a wealth of information and expertise in the area on infant development and parent education. Admitting a baby to the NICU is a shock for most parents and can take a toll on a family. The role of the occupational therapist is to help educate the family and to provide the tools to safely take care of their baby and to smoothen the transition from the hospital to home.

In the NICU, the OT has …

Examining The Role Of Prosocial Tendencies And Social Anxiety In Hazardous Drinking Practices Among College Students, Helena M. Berlin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Over 40% of the United States (US) population aged 18 to 25 is enrolled at postsecondary institutions, and 31.4% of college students report risky alcohol use (i.e., binge drinking). Identifying risk and protective factors for this population is a public health priority. The primary objective of this study was to examine the additive and multiplicative relationship of prosocial tendencies and social anxiety on hazardous drinking (AUDIT scores). A secondary aim was to examine whether these relationships differed by participation in college organizations (Greekaffiliation, athletic participation, both, and neither). Cross-sectional data were collected from 9,196 college students (ages 18-25) from 12 …

Healthcare Screenings In The Occupational And Workplace Setting: Taking Control Over Blood Pressure, Darryl W. Horton

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Undiagnosed hypertension continues to be a growing concern worldwide leading to cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses and can contribute to death. The prevalence of hypertension continues to increase even with guidelines on screening, hypertension education, disease prevention, disease maintenance, and management. The purpose of this project was to determine if the implementation of a workplace blood pressure screening program would improve hypertension knowledge and reduce the burden of hypertension within workplace. A descriptive, cross-sectional design using convenience sampling was conducted. Participants were screened by measuring blood pressures, and the Hypertension Evaluation of Lifestyle Management scale (HELM) was utilized to …

Investigation Of Swimming Physiology And Swimming Kinematics While Wearing Different Triathlon Wetsuit Styles At Submaximal Front Crawl Swimming In Recreational Population, Boram Lim

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Triathlon wetsuits are commonly used due to the potential benefits in swimming performance and thermoregulation. Triathletes may select different wetsuit styles depending on many factors such as temperature regulation, swimming technique, body type, and training purpose. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence for how different wetsuit styles affect physiological responses and swimming kinematics during submaximal swimming intensity. Therefore, this studyaimed to investigate the physiological responses and swimming kinematics during submaximal intensity front crawl swimming while wearing different wetsuit styles. Fourteen participants (n=6 male, n=8 female; all recreational triathletes or swimmers) completed a swimming graded exercise test (GXT) wearing …

Time-Of-Day And Chronotype Dependent Effects Of Exercise On Migraine Load In People With Chronic Migraines: A Cross-Over Randomized Clinical Trial, Elias M. Malek

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Migraines are the most common cause of chronic pain. Effective, non-pharmacological strategies to reduce migraine load are needed. Exercise is an effective strategy, but it is unclear how exercise timing and temporal preference (chronotype) factors modulate the laudatory effects of exercise. Purpose: Determine the effects of; 1) time-of-day of exercise, and 2) exercise synchrony with one’s chronotype, on migraine load. Methods: Participants were 13 sedentary individuals with 8+ migraines/month (age = 30 ± 11 yrs, 167 ± 6 cm, 86 ± 28 kg). Participants were categorized into morning-/evening-types based on the Morning/Eveningness Questionnaire and instructed to complete 1 month of …

A Wearable Electronic Monitoring Device For Low Pressure Garment Applications And Temperature Analysis For Prevention Of Ulceration And Infection, Francisco Mata Carlos

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The healing process of several medical conditions related to venous insufficiency and burn scar management can be improved by the proper application of pressure. Current practices for applying pressure to an extremity do not guarantee the consensus ideal interface pressures for such medical conditions. Applying a low pressure range (within 15 – 40 mm Hg) is challenging due to many factors, but especially because the actual pressure applied by a compression garment used on a patient is unknown. The proposed device, used to sense and display low pressure values, is described in detail throughout the chapters of this thesis.An electronic …

Is Dietary Teaching Via Telehealth Effective In Lowering Hgba1c In Adult Patients With Prediabetes Or Type 2 Diabetes?, Mia Mccallum-Crawford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are two common conditions diagnosed in the primary care setting. Both conditions benefit from a healthy lifestyle, managing blood sugar levels, and getting diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES). Within the past two decades, the healthcare community in the US has witnessed a substantial rise in diabetes among adults. Overall, the self-management of diabetes continues to worsen nationally. The purpose of this project is to improve patients’ self-management of both Prediabetes and T2DM through nutrition and show how nutritional counseling via telehealth provided by a nurse practitioner can improve HgbA1C values over 3 …

Increasing Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Intent And Knowledge Through An Educational Intervention, Angelica E. Musumeci

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a widely discussed topic in healthcare as it affects patients of all genders and ages who partake in sexual activity. The most significant concern it poses to those at risk is HPV-related cancer. Fortunately, a vaccination exists that targets specific strains associated with these types of cancers. Despite evidence-based research supporting the vaccination’s efficacy and safety, lack of awareness and misinformation diminish the receipt of the vaccine and drive the lack of protection. Thus, educational interventions directed at parents and caregivers, which aims to improve their understanding of HPV and the vaccination’s benefits, is key to …

The Effects Of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation On Motor Learning In Complex Motor Tasks, Milan Pantovic

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has emerged over the past 10-12 years as safe, affordable, portable, easy to use, and potentially efficacious adjuvant training intervention in several aspects of human performance. tDCS has been shown to be able to improve both cognitive and motor function in a wide variety of populations such as young adults, older adults, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and many others. However, the majority of tDCS research has been conducted in the motor system of healthy young adults, which will also be the focus of this dissertation.The basic effects of tDCS …

Identifying Gaps In Social Determinants Of Health Among Patients 65 Years And Older With Congestive Heart Failure: A Secondary Data Analysis, Sandra Pierre-Louis

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common healthcare problems for older adults. Because of its high and rising prevalence in this population and its significant influence on healthcare costs and quality of life, CHF is becoming a serious public health issue in the United States. More effective strategies for preventing and managing CHF in older people are desperately needed (Rich, 2015). The disease accounts for 3% of hospital admissions in the United States and affects more than 6.5 million Americans (White-Williams et al., 2020). Further, CHF is exacerbated by adverse social determinants of health (SDOH). This study …

Food Insecurity And Dietary Intake In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes In Southern Nevada, Elizabeth Torres

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background Type 2 diabetes is a major public health issue and food insecurity can affect diabetes management. Food insecurity can contribute to disrupted dietary eating patterns and decreased consumptions of a variety of foods. The aim of this observational study was to determine the difference in dietary intake between food insecure and food secure individuals with type 2 diabetes, as well as by glycemic control. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 55 participants were recruited from an academic endocrinology clinic. Participants completed a 7-day food diary, a household food security questionnaire, and assessment of blood biomarkers (HbA1c). To determine the differences …

Development Of A Model For Affordable Senior Living Community, Nyx Wenlin Zhu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective

An affordable senior living community model must be developed to support the needs of our growing elderly population. Health, safety, and wellbeing depend on equal physical health, social health, and mental or psychological health provisions. As we look at each of these aspects, we must filter physical, social, and mental health based on the abilities of the older population.

Background

The aging population in western societies is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century and has multiple implications for society, the economy, and other aspects of the community. Aging people who lack family support often require the …

Site Characterization For Co2 Storage, Abd-Rasheed Abiodun Ajiboye

Theses and Dissertations

Global warming is one of the most widely debated issues on the planet. Growing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are responsible for global warming but not just as a result of human activity. Nonetheless, human activity has a significant impact on the rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere. International bodies are worried; as a result, the world's CO2 reduction options are being investigated. CO2 storage in suitable geological strata under the earth is believed to be one of the most viable options. The purpose of this research is to set the framework for evaluating the characteristics of an …

Interdiction Models To Disrupt The Operations Of Sex Trafficking And Other Forced Illicit Labor Networks, Michael T. Clark

All Theses

Sex traffickers often force their victims to work in both commercial sex markets and perform other illicit activities (e.g., drug dealing, theft, and fraud). Current literature has failed to address interdiction models that aim to disrupt all components of a sex traffickers’ operation, including these other illicit activities. In this thesis, we present a interdiction problem, and its single-level linear optimization reformulation, to reduce the profit of a human trafficking network concurrently operating in the commercial sex market and other illicit activity markets. Our novel formulation aims to investigate the practical implications of interdiction decisions made to disrupt a human …

An In Vitro Approach To Identify Sources Of Resistance To Fusarium Wilt Caused By Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Vasinfectum Race 4 In Domesticated Cotton, Stephen Parris

All Theses

Cotton lint produced by the plants Gossypium barbadense L. (pima cotton) and Gossypium hirsutum L. (upland cotton) is the world’s leading source of renewable textiles. The fibers of the cotton plant have been woven so intricately into our society that it would be hard to imagine life without their products. Cotton breeders must then not only continue to work to improve the quality of cotton fibers (fineness, strength, dyability, etc.) but also to improve the resilience of the plant against biotic and abiotic factors. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum race 4 (FOV4) is an aggressive fungal pathogen, which causes Fusarium …

Perception And Play: Consumer Perceptions Of Craft Breweries And The Impacts Of Tourism Expenditures On Economic Health, Anne Wade

All Theses

This thesis evaluates two different strategies local leaders use to support and grow their economies. The first evaluates how residents from across the American South view and understand their experience of local craft breweries. The second evaluates the effects of direct tourism spending and direct tourism tax receipts on important measures of resident well-being in the twenty-three county Western North Carolina region. The first chapter in this thesis evaluates the overall consumer perception of the growing craft brewing industry within the states of Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Louisiana and what factors affect this perception. It uses …

Toward Sustainable Urban Food Production: Integrating Hydroponic Cultivation With Wastewater Reuse, Amanda Tan

All Theses

The growing crisis of freshwater scarcity together with the increasing global food demand directs attention to the need for alternative water sources for agriculture. The research presented here engages this need by carrying out indoor cultivation of food crops in Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic systems using residential wastewater. Randomized single factor experimental designs were used to investigate the physiochemical and microbiological makeup of the hydroponic nutrient solution throughout the cultivation cycle and their relationship with different plant development parameters.

For agricultural wastewater reuse to be of low risk to human health there must be some advancement in pathogen monitoring …

Effects Of Invasive Wild Pigs And Supplemental Feeding On Wildlife In The Piedmont Region Of South Carolina, Elizabeth A. Saldo

All Theses

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa), which are invasive in much of the world, can alter ecosystems and compete with native species through interference competition and resource exploitation. We assessed the potential for interspecific interactions between invasive wild pigs and other wildlife in the Piedmont region of South Carolina by examining their spatiotemporal overlap in a correlational field study and an experimental field study. Our correlational study used data from wildlife cameras in seasonal occupancy, N-mixture, and temporal overlap analyses. Both deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and coyote (Canis latrans) site use were negatively associated with wild pig …

Effect Of Refrigerated Storage On Meat Quality, Jillian Reid Richardson

All Theses

Maintaining meat quality during cold temperature storage is an important goal for increasing consumer satisfaction and reducing food waste. Following a literature review on the importance of cold meat storage, a study was conducted as a part of Electrolux refrigerator research and development. Chicken breast and beef sirloin filets were stored at -2°C, -5°C, and -18°C and monitored for quality changes over a 7-day period. Temperature fluctuations and relative humidity data were monitored automatically by sensors. Meat quality was evaluated by measuring water activity, moisture content, pH, colorimetry, sensory, and drip loss. Microbial plate counts were used to monitor the …

Physical And Microbiological Characteristics Of Pickled Eggs From Japanese Quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) Of The Pharaoh Variety, Adair Hoover

All Theses

The quality and microbiological characteristics of quail eggs were evaluated after eggs were pickled in different vinegar brine solutions. Pickling food in vinegar is one of the oldest preservation methods; however, little research has been conducted on pickled quail eggs. Commercial quail eggs obtained from a local producer were boiled, peeled, and placed into various pickling solutions and held for 24 or 48 hours at room temperature. After the holding period, eggs were removed from the solutions, weighed, and tested for pH, water activity, texture, and color. A second experiment was conducted to determine the effects of various pickling solutions …

Identification Of Critical Points For Bacterial Contamination In The Microbrewery Environment, Alex Ryan Thompson

All Theses

There are 8,884 craft breweries producing over 23 million barrels of beer in the United States as of 2020. These 23 million barrels of craft beer account for 12.3% of the United States beer consumption in 2020. The American craft beer industry is substantial and needs to protect its product from bacterial contamination.

Overall, beer is a microbially stable product. Beers pH, ethanol levels, CO₂ concentrations, the presence of hop-derived antimicrobial compounds, and low levels of O₂ make beer a highly unfavorable environment for most bacterial species. Furthermore, the brewing process, which involves heat treatments and chemical sanitizers …

Relationship Of Eccentric Strength And Forward Perturbation Restabilization After Foot Contact, Leandra K. Ashworth

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Background: Forward falls are the most common fall direction and pose safety concerns for adults. To prevent forward falls, compensatory steps, and change-in-support reactions (e.g., foot contact) are critical for restabilizing center of mass after unpredictable, balance disturbances. Multi-joint, lower limb eccentric and isometric strength may provide additional insight on foot contact responses after a forward, temporally unpredictable perturbation. Multi-joint, eccentric muscular contractions have been found to result in significant neuromuscular adaptations (e.g., hypertrophy and muscular strength) and have higher retention capabilities than concentric contractions. Due to the importance of muscular strength in balance recovery, eccentric muscular strength could provide …

Comparative Effects Of Eccentric Overload Training On Muscle Function Measures When Combined With Aquatic Plyometric Training, Cassidy Weeks

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Although there is a growing body of knowledge on eccentric resistance training and aquatic plyometric training on muscle function measures alone, no research to date has investigated the effects of a mixed training model. Aquatic plyometrics and overload eccentric training are two different training models which could work synergistically because the shortcomings of one model are the virtues of the other (i.e., plyometrics are not as effective at producing large muscle size and strength gains and eccentric-only training largely lacks the functional SSC component). The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the effects of a combined eccentric …

Cellular Migration As A Function Of Magnetic Field Intervention, Amy Marie Vecheck

Theses and Dissertations

This work aims to assess cellular migration in three-dimensional structures as a function of Zeeman resonance. By using Zeeman resonance to initialize intersystem crossing of electrons, also known as the Radical Pair Mechanism, bioenergetics processes would be modulated. Processes such as oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate are indicative of cellular respiration and glycolysis and can be altered based on the orientation of the magnetic field applied: parallel and perpendicular, respectively. This study focused on the parallel orientation and looked to used Zeeman resonance to increase flavin adenosine dinucleotide, which results in preventing the breakdown of F-actin. Cellular viability …

Fatigue, Schedules, Sleep, And Sleepiness In U.S. Commercial Pilots During Covid-19, Cassie J. Hilditch, Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

cOViD-19 has had a significant impact on the aviation industry. While reduced flying capacity may intuitively translate to reduced fatigue risk by way of fewer flights and duty hours, the actual impact of the pandemic on pilot fatigue is unknown. methods: We surveyed U.S. commercial airline pilots in late 2020 (N = 669) and early 2021 (N = 156) to assess the impact of COViD-19 on schedules and fatigue during the pandemic. results: Overall, pilots reported reduced flight and duty hours compared to prepandemic. Average sleep on workdays was slightly shorter in late 2020 (6.87 ± 1.14 h) and recovered …

Reintroduction Of The Grey Wolf, Cody Willers

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

A comprehensive literature review of the topic of the reintroduction of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) into the lower 48 states has been conducted to determine the viability of the grey wolf as a method for managing the overgrowth of medium to large ungulate populations. Due to the overgrowth of medium to large ungulate populations without the presence of the grey wolf, detrimental environmental impacts were being seen on many ecosystems such as Yellowstone in North America. Through predation and the fear of predation, the presence of the grey wolf in these ecosystems can provide a solution to the negative …

Reexamining The Desert: A Study Of Place-Based Food Insecurity, Morgan Ryan

Department of Geography: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Food deserts are areas where individuals lack access to healthy and affordable food. Since 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been one of the leading organizations studying the phenomenon of food deserts. However, issues relating to the scale of their analysis limit their ability to gain a nuanced understanding of food insecurity. In the past decade, an increased emphasis has been placed on the importance of local factors that contribute to food insecurity and complicate the large-scale study of the phenomenon. This research explores the various place-based factors shaping food insecurity in Lincoln, Nebraska, by readapting Penchansky …

Biological Sex Differences In The Monodelphis Domestica: Investigating Behavioral Responses In Environmental Enrichment And Conditioned Place Preference Paradigms, Katelynn M. Renteria

Theses and Dissertations

The Monodelphis domestica, commonly known as the grey short-tailed opossum, has become an increasingly frequented animal model for areas of psychological study, including comparative psychology. Despite the growing interest in utilizing the Monodelphis as an animal model, several areas of research remain limited in what has been studied. This includes associative learning and the effects of environmental enrichment on the Monodelphis. This study novelly incorporates the two using environmental enrichment with the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm to both diversify associative learning literature and expand existing knowledge on the Monodelphis domestica. The CPP paradigm included interactive objects as environmental …

Comparing Various Physiological System Adaptations Following 8 Weeks Of Resistance Training With Or Without Bfr In Older Males, Ricardo Parra

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 8 weeks of resistance exercise training with and without BFR on: 1), arterial elasticity and hemodynamics (e.g., blood pressure and resting heart rate), 2) muscular force production (e.g., maximal voluntary contraction, force production, electromyography, and estimated one-repetition maximum) in males between the 50 to 70 years of age.

RESULTS: Significant condition difference for reflection magnitude occurred in BFR group (p < 0.05). Significant time*condition effect occurred in Leg Press 1RM, Leg Extension 1RM, Leg Curl 1RM, Chest Press 1RM, and Shoulder Press 1RM (p < 0.05). Significant condition* time interaction occurred for Isokinetic Leg Extension Test (60°/s) (p < 0.05). A significant time*condition interaction occurred during Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC) – Root Mean Square for both vastus medialis and vastus lateralis (p < 0.05). A significant time main effect occurred in the BFR group for the amplitude mean of the MVC in the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis (p < 0.05). A significant time main effect occurred for median frequency of the MVC (p < 0.05). A significant difference in Estimated Visceral Adipose Tissue occurred in the BFR group (p < 0.05). A significant condition*time interaction occurred in arm fat percentage (p < 0.05). The BFR group had significantly less fat tissue (%) in the left arm (p < 0.01) and in the right arm (p = 0.04). A significant time*main effect occurred in the total lean tissue for the left side of the body (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION: Using BFR resistance training at a low intensity can achieve similar adaptations seen at high intensities while reducing the risk of injury that comes with heavier loads.

Small Extracellular Vesicles In Milk Cross The Blood-Brain Barrier In Murine Cerebral Cortex Endothelial Cells And Promote Dendritic Complexity In The Hippocampus And Brain Function In C57bl/6j Mice, Fang Zhou, Pearl Ebea, Ezra Mutai, Haichuan Wang, Sonal Sukreet, Shya Navazesh, Haluk Dogan, Wenhao Li, Juan Cui, Peng Ji, Denise M.O. Ramirez, Janos Zempleni

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Human milk contains large amounts of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and their microRNA cargos, whereas infant formulas contain only trace amounts of sEVs and microRNAs. We assessed the transport of sEVs across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and sEV accumulation in distinct regions of the brain in brain endothelial cells and suckling mice. We further assessed sEV-dependent gene expression profiles and effects on the dendritic complexity of hippocampal granule cells and phenotypes of EV depletion in neonate, juvenile and adult mice. The transfer of sEVs across the BBB was assessed by using fluorophore-labeled bovine sEVs in brain endothelial bEnd.3 monolayers and …