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Exploring The Influence Of Technology-Supported Immersive Experiences: The Case Of Golf Simulators As A Way Of Relieving Stress In The Workplace, Luka Van Der Merwe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study explores the impact of immersive technology, specifically golf simulators, on relieving work-related stress among hotel industry employees. The purpose of the current study was to examine how hotel employees perceive the use of immersive technology as a form of stress relief. The study was developed to learn whether hotel employees experience work-related stress, and if so, how they cope with it. The study also aimed to determine whether they would be interested in utilizing a golf simulator as a new form of stress relief if it were offered to them free of charge by their employer. Interviewing hotel …

The Social Dimension Of Embodied Existence, Ranier A. Ibana

Budhi: A Journal of Ideas and Culture

The Social Dimension of Embodied Existence

Early Childhood Language Gains, Kindergarten Readiness, And Grade 3 Reading Achievement, Jessica A.R. Logan, Shayne B. Piasta, Kelly M. Purtell, Robert Nichols, Rachel E. Schachter

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

In this preregistered study, we used latent change score models to address two research aims: (1) whether preschool-aged children's language gains, over a year of early childhood education, were associated with later performance on state-mandated, literacy-focused kindergarten readiness and Grade 3 reading achievement assessments, and (2) whether gains in language, a more complex skill, predicted these outcomes after controlling for more basic emergent literacy skills. There were 724 participating children (mean = 57 months; 51% male; 76% White, 12% Black, 6% multiple races, and 5% Hispanic or Latino). We found that language gains significantly predicted kindergarten readiness when estimated in …

Optical And Electrical Interfaces For Biological Structures, Mehdi Bandali

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents novel solutions for recording optical and electrical data from biological structures. CHAPTER ONE discusses the 16×16 Time correlated SPAD image array I developed in a 180 nm HV CMOS process for single-molecule localization super-resolution microscopy (SRM). This image array has a maximum frame rate of 80 MHz and a fill factor of 17.4 %. To demonstrate SRM with this imaging array, we localized gold nanoparticle displacement at 40 nm. CHAPTER TWO discusses stimulation artifacts' time and frequency domain characteristics and potential strategies for canceling this interference on neural recording. CHAPTER THREE discusses an artifact-resilient neural recording front-end …

The Effects Of Restaurant Drive-Through Vehicle Mobile Emissions On Air Quality, Tryston Nychol Sellers Calder

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Studies and regulations on vehicles have become more prominent as concerns continue to rise over mobile emissions. Most recognizable is the U.S. EPA Near-Road monitoring network that began in 2010. The focus of most air quality studies has been vehicular traffic on freeways. However, drive-through sales skyrocketed in 2020 because they were the only way for restaurants to stay in busy during the pandemic. Drive throughs have continued to remain pivotal in fast food restaurant sales accounting for majority of sales. This demand has brought upon the question of how much drive-throughs contribute to mobile emissions, specifically in the form …

Role Of Mechanical Signaling In Bone Tissue, Scott Aaron Birks

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

As the global population ages and life expectancy continues to rise, osteoporosis continues to be a growing worldwide health concern. The International Osteoporosis Foundation reports 1 in 3 women over the age of 50 years and 1 in 5 men worldwide will experience osteoporotic fractures in their lifetime, costing between 5 and 6.5 trillion USD annually in Canada, Europe, and the United States alone. The need for preventative measures to reduce age-related bone loss is clear, not only to improve quality of life for countless individuals but also to relieve the economic burden this condition imposes.

Exercise is a proven …

Social Network Analysis Of A Biomedical Research Co-Authorship Network, Amrina Ferdous

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

A social network analysis (SNA) is a graph-based method for visualizing social networks. Our study uses the SNA to analyze co-authorship patterns in National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE), Idaho Institutional Development Award (IDeA), Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), and Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN) grants between 2001 and 2022. It is of interest to us to analyze the growth and expansion of research over time to look at the social networks of research Hubs, the social networks of potential research Hubs in the near future, and the social networks of potential leaders …

Balancing Societal Demands For Agricultural Land: Insights, Innovations, And Conservation Priorities, Sarah Halperin

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

With an increasing global population and the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss intensifying, society faces many challenges in reconciling conflicting demands for the landscape. Covering roughly half of the land area of the United States, agricultural land is in direct competition with other land uses and will likely play an important role in addressing these important conservation challenges. In this dissertation, we used well-supported existing methodologies and principles from ecosystem services, message framing, and biodiversity conservation to create knowledge about how to better protect agricultural lands. We conducted our study in the Treasure Valley, Idaho, where the issue …

Additive Manufacturing Of Microelectronic Devices For Extreme Environments, Nicholas Mckibben

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This work encompasses a comprehensive exploration of advanced manufacturing techniques for fabricating microelectronic devices compatible with extreme environments. The research integrates the fields of chemistry, nanomaterials, and additive manufacturing to achieve remarkable progress in sensor development, with a particular emphasis on aerosol jet printing (AJP), surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, patterned graphene growth, and surface functionalization. The investigation begins with the AJP process development of a commercial silver nanoparticle ink, culminating in the fabrication of a piezoelectric SAW transducer that was prototyped as a high-temperature thermometer, showing excellent linearity when validated to 200°C. Next, the investigation continued with the development …

Flow Electrode Capacitive Deionization Using Mxene Suspension Electrodes For Energy Efficient Water Remediation, Naqsh E. Mansoor

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The growing global demand for clean water, coupled with increasing concerns around aquatic pollution, necessitate the development of high performing and energy-efficient technologies for wastewater remediation. Capacitive Deionization (CDI) has emerged as a promising electrochemical method for desalination and removal of contaminants from various water sources. Despite its potential, CDI faces a significant bottleneck concerning the selection and optimization of suitable electrode materials. The choice of electrode materials critically influences the performance and efficiency of the CDI system, with the quest for an ideal material remaining a challenging and ongoing research endeavor. This dissertation explores potential of using MXene materials …

Greening The Cement Industry In Egypt: Exploring Decarbonisation Policies For The Cement Industry, Saleh Elghamrawi

Theses and Dissertations

The cement industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 7% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Cement is the most consumed material on earth, second only to water, and its demand is fueled by continuous urbanization and the lack of alternative materials. In Egypt, the cement sector is responsible for 14% of CO2 emissions, emitting over 800 kilograms of CO2 per ton of cement, surpassing the global average of 600. In 2016, Egypt ratified the Paris agreement to address climate change and has committed in its National Determined Contributions (NDC) to reduce CO2 emissions. However, …

Bimetallic Bi/Cu0-Catalyzed Persulfate-Based Advanced Oxidation Processes Towards Clofibric Acid Degradation In Wastewater, Jibran Iqbal, Noor S. Shah, Javed Ali Khan, Mohamed A. Habila, Grzegorz Boczkaj, Asam Shad, Yousef Nazzal, Ahmed A. Al-Taani, Fares Howari

All Works

Clofibric acid (CFA), an important blood-lipid regulatory drug is an emerging organic pollutant and widely reported in water resources. A novel bimetallic, bismuth/zero valent cupper (Bi/Cu0) catalyst was prepared which showed better physiological, structural, and catalytic properties than Cu0. The Bi/Cu0 effectively catalyzed persulfate (S2O82−) and caused 85% degradation of CFA. The Bi coupling improved reusability and stability of Cu0. The use of alcoholic and anionic radical scavengers and analyzing change in [S2O82−]0 proved that Bi/Cu0/S2O82− yield hydroxyl radicals (●OH) and sulfate radicals (SO4●–). The ●OH and SO4●– showed faster reaction with CFA, i.e., 4.65 × 109 and 3.82 × …

Human Parechovirus Central Nervous System Infection In A Young Infant Cohort, Aspasia Katragkou, Avni Sheth, Christina Gagliardo, Jessica Aquino, Niva Shah, Eberechi Nwaobasi-Iwuh, Christina Melchionne, Paige Black, Stephanie Chiu, Cecilia Di Pentima

Department of Pediatrics Faculty Papers

In 2022, a surge in cases of pediatric human parechovirus (HPeV) central nervous system infections in young infants was seen at our institution. Despite the dramatic increase in the number of cases seen that year, the clinical features of the illness were similar to prior years. The recent pediatric HPeV surge highlights the need to evaluate treatment options and standardize follow-up to better understand the long-term prognosis of infants with HPeV infection.

Characteristics And Outcomes Of Patients With Pregnancy-Related End-Stage Kidney Disease., Lauren Kucirka, Ana Angarita, Tracy Manuck, Kim Boggess, Vimal Derebail, Mollie Wood, Michelle Meyer, Dorry Segev, Monica Reynolds

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: The incidence of pregnancy-related acute kidney injury is increasing and is associated with significant maternal morbidity including progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Little is known about characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients who develop pregnancy-related ESKD.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with pregnancy-related ESKD and to investigate associations between pre-ESKD nephrology care and outcomes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a cohort study of 183 640 reproductive-aged women with incident ESKD between January 1, 2000, and November 20, 2020, from the US Renal Data System and maternal data from births captured in the …

The Effect Of Nitroglycerin In Testicular Histopathology, Reproductive Hormones And Testicular Oxidative Stress In Adolescent Rats, Volkan Koşal, Çağlar Okulmuş, Yılmaz Koçak, Ömer Faruk Keleş, Nesrin Ceylan, Yıldıray Başbuğan

Mansoura Veterinary Medical Journal

Background: Nitroglycerin (NTG) exerts a vasodilation effect by acting on vascular smooth muscles. The exact impact of vasodilation on the testes is not fully understood. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of NTG on the testes before the onset of spermatogenesis and reproductive activity in adolescent rats. Methods: An Average of 45 days male Albino Wistar rats were used. Two groups were formed: an adolescent control group and an adolescent NTG group (10 mg/kg, 5 d). Results: At the end of the study, testicular oxidative stress (malondialdehyde /MDA, catalase/ CAT, advanced oxidation protein products /AOPP, and nitric oxide/ …

Impact Of School Leaders’ Actions On Teachers And Their Practices, Dinara Metova

Dissertations

School leaders play a vital role in teachers' performance; while some leaders create an environment conducive to learning, collaboration, and achievement, others inadvertently contribute to teacher attrition and educational disparities. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of school leaders' actions on teachers and their practices. The context of this inquiry includes two stakeholder groups: 582 school leaders and 1,054 teachers from all 50 states who are members of Facebook Educator Groups. I implemented a mixed methods design by researching scholarly articles and using qualitative and quantitative survey data to find the most effective school leader practices …

Social Media Use In Disaster Management: Perceptions Of Emergency Management Directors At Kentucky Institutions Of Higher Education, Ahmed Mohammed Alshaharani

Online Theses and Dissertations

Since time immemorial, disasters have been part and parcel of the human experience; hence the ever-present need for disaster management. These disasters can take place everywhere and at any time, including institutions of higher education. The use of social media platforms as a tool for disaster management has gained traction in recent years due to its growing use across the world. The purpose of this study is to analyze the use of social media in disaster management specifically with respect to the perceptions on the existence of fake news and spam among directors in higher education Emergency Response/Emergency Management in …

Perceptions Of Play-Based Curricula As An Effective Model Of Instruction For Children With Special Needs, Angela Bernice Cooper

Online Theses and Dissertations

This is a study of teachers’ perceptions of the use of play-based curricula as an effective model of instruction for children with special needs. Participants surveyed were representative of preschool teachers in rural southeastern Kentucky. The study employed qualitative methods. Semi structured interviews were used to collect data from the participants to elicit rich responses based on real-life experiences using play-based curricula. No earlier studies had been conducted on this topic, and the research base was limited. Research participants consisted of thirteen preschool teachers from both public preschool and licensed childcare programs. The findings indicated that most teachers interviewed agreed …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of Telehealth Adolescents' Interventions On Sleep: A Meta-Analysis, Youmna Hakoum

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to explore the effectiveness of any telehealth interventions that report sleep outcomes on adolescents, ages 11-20 years old. It was hypothesized that most studies will favor telehealth treatment, regardless of type of treatment, and will present medium to high effect sizes sleep improvements. The following databases were searched to determine any research articles published after 2000 and present as of 8 July 2023: PsycINFO, PubMed, and Cochrane. In total, 15 studies, five pre-post and ten Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT), fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were analyzed. Subjective (self-report) and objective (actigraphy based) …

Placental Co-Culture Model Reveals Listeria Monocytogenes Utilization Of Monocytes For Vertical Transmission, Breanna Mackenzie Amelunke

Online Theses and Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic pathogen that can cross the protective placental barrier and infect the fetus, leading to congenital disabilities or death. Extracellular L. monocytogenes infection of the placenta has been well studied; however, the bacteria have not been observed translocating this barrier intracellularly. As an intracellular pathogen, L. monocytogenes could infect phagocytic cells that can be transported across the placental barrier. A novel cell co-culture system comprised of BeWo and HPVEC cell lines was established to model the human placental barrier. Barrier integrity was confirmed using immunostaining of tight junctions and a FITC-dextran permeability assay. The model was …

Exploring The Past With Place: Incorporating Multimodal Archival Composition In Secondary English Education, Sarah King

Online Theses and Dissertations

This project presents a comprehensive pedagogical approach that integrates place theory, multimodality, and archival elements to create a versatile framework for crafting compelling narratives and meaningful connections for public audiences. This project consists of three assignment models, collectively titled "Exploring Personal History Through Archives." These assignments guide students through a progressive and cohesive learning experience, incorporating multimodal archival composition. Collectively, these assignments enhance students' abilities to analyze and integrate information from diverse sources to address historical questions and challenges, empowering them to appreciate the role of archives in shaping history, navigate perspectives, and contribute to the preservation and sharing of …

From The Governor's Desk To A Bullet In Your Chest: The Fatal Implications Of Anti-Trans Legislation, Iyan Wickel

Online Theses and Dissertations

Proposed discriminatory legislation in the hundreds has resulted in a renewed look at trans communities, both of support and vitriol. Just as new legislation has been proposed in recent years at a rate that is higher than ever before, so has the reported rate of murder of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, seemingly at a similar rate with hate fueled rhetoric and legislation. This general observation was the driving force behind this study; to determine whether or not anti-trans legislation in particular coincided with the rate of murder of trans and gender non-conforming people. The study at hand examined the …

Software Jimenae Allows Efficient Dynamic Simulations Of Boolean Networks, Centrality And System State Analysis, Martin Kaltdorf, Tim Breitenbach, Stefan Karl, Maximilian Fuchs, David Komla Kessie, Eric Psota, Martina Prelog, Edita Sarukhanyan, Regina Ebert, Franz Jakob, Gudrun Dandekar, Muhammad Naseem, Chunguang Liang, Thomas Dandekar

All Works

The signal modelling framework JimenaE simulates dynamically Boolean networks. In contrast to SQUAD, there is systematic and not just heuristic calculation of all system states. These specific features are not present in CellNetAnalyzer and BoolNet. JimenaE is an expert extension of Jimena, with new optimized code, network conversion into different formats, rapid convergence both for system state calculation as well as for all three network centralities. It allows higher accuracy in determining network states and allows to dissect networks and identification of network control type and amount for each protein with high accuracy. Biological examples demonstrate this: (i) High plasticity …

Mental Illness Stigma As A Moderator In The Relationship Between Religiosity And Help-Seeking Attitudes Among Muslims From 16 Arab Countries, Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Suhad Daher-Nashif, Manel Stambouli, Amthal Alhuwailah, Mai Helmy, Hanaa Ahmed Mohamed Shuwiekh, Cheikh Mohamed Fadel Mohamed Lemine, Eqbal Radwan, Juliann Saquib, Nazmus Saquib, Mirna Fawaz, Btissame Zarrouq, Abdallah Y. Naser, Sahar Obeid, Maan Saleh, Sanad Haider, Lahmer Miloud, Manal Badrasawi, Ayman Hamdan-Mansour, Mariapaola Barbato, Aisha Motwakil Bakhiet, Najat Sayem Khalil, Samir Adawi, Fatheya Grein, Alexandre Andrade Loch, Majda Cheour, Souheil Hallit

All Works

Background: Determining the potential barriers responsible for delaying access to care, and elucidating pathways to early intervention should be a priority, especially in Arab countries where mental health resources are limited. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have examined the relationship between religiosity, stigma and help-seeking in an Arab Muslim cultural background. Hence, we propose in the present study to test the moderating role of stigma toward mental illness in the relationship between religiosity and help-seeking attitudes among Muslim community people living in different Arab countries. Method: The current survey is part of a large-scale multinational collaborative …

Police And Cross-Cultural Psychology: The Impact Of Human Values On Violence, Claudio V. Torres, Sharon Glazer

Online Readings in Psychology and Culture

Researchers of police psychology must be well-acquainted with police work and culture both nationally and organizationally. However, most studies developed in police psychology do not fully account for the national context within which a study was done. In this article review, we discuss two social phenomena commonly studied by police psychologists: aggression and violence. Taking primarily a cross-national approach, we focus on the predictive role of individual values on aggression and violence. Schwartz’s (1992) values theory, at the individual level of analysis, was chosen due to its importance to cross-cultural psychology, as well as its implications on well-being (e.g., Sagiv …

Examining The Conditions Affecting The Success Of Income-Generating Activities By Refugees: A Focus On Programs Provided By Ingos In Egypt., Wesal Elkorashy

Theses and Dissertations

With the global decline in resettlement opportunities for refugees in the so-called Global North, many displaced populations are hosted in the Global South. The shift towards first asylum and transit countries often places them in environments where economic stability is often elusive, coupled with legal, social, and cultural barriers. In this challenging situation, addressing refugees' economic lives resilience, and their contribution in the overall economy of host countries becomes increasingly urgent. This is intrinsically linked to the support provided by humanitarian organizations, particularly INGOs, which play a pivotal role in implementing economic programs aimed at increasing refugees’ engagement in the …

Characterization Of Human Mobility From Cellular Data, Zaid Matloub

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates human mobility patterns using crowd-sourced cellular network data from different Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the United States, spanning the Houston, New York-Newark, NJ City, and 13 other significant MSAs. By focusing on prominent spatial mobility parameters highlighted in existing literature, the study unveils consistent findings regarding the predictability of human mobility across diverse time scales and geographic regions. The research underscores the significance of selecting appropriate sampling thresholds based on the mobility parameters being examined, the size of the dataset, and available computational resources. Through a meticulous analysis, it emerges that while values such as mean …

Patient, Provider, And Interpreter Perspectives On Interpreter Modality And Barriers To Interpreter Use In A Pediatric Inpatient Setting, Brooklyn Leitch

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

There are a growing number of patients and families in the United States who use a language other than English (LOE). Standard of care for best patient outcomes requires that these families receive professional interpretation for every encounter, preferably in the interpreter modality that they are most comfortable with and that provides the best communication. Unfortunately, they often do not receive this. Objectives of this research include learning how interpreter services are selected and used as well as which modality (in-person, video, or phone) is preferred by patients and families, providers, and interpreters. We aim to better understand the experiences …

Substance Use Patterns Among High School Students - A Replication Study Of The 2020 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Haley Irons

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The study selected for replication is “Prescription Opioid Misuse and Use of Alcohol and Other Substances Among High School Students” by Christopher Jones and colleagues published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Supplement in August 2020. The original report used data from the Centers for Disease Control’s 2009-2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which is a cross-sectional survey administered every two years to a sample of public- and private-school students in 9th–12th grade in the United States. Researchers from the original report aimed to use the 2009-2019 YRBS data to examine substance use among high school students, characterize the …

Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns In The Emergency Department, Maddison Mcconnaughhay

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Purpose: Antibiotic resistance is a major public health problem in the United States, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality (CDC, 2019). This study seeks to understand how antibiotic use for dental problems may contribute to antibiotic resistance and adverse drug reactions while only temporarily relieving the underlying oral health condition. Previous research suggests differences in prescribing patterns for pain management by provider type, but little is known about antibiotic prescribing patterns, especially for diverse groups of pediatric patients (Chua, et al., 2019). This study aims to characterize antibiotic prescribing patterns in a midwestern children's hospital emergency department for non-traumatic dental …