Digital Commons Network^™

Analyzing Sars-Cov-2 Wastewater Surveillance Data For Public Health Impact In Southern Nevada, Casey A. Barber

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers determined that levels of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic material in wastewater could provide information about COVID-19 occurrence in communities. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) efforts have subsequently expanded throughout the U.S. and internationally; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated its National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) in September of 2020 and continues its SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring efforts following the end of the federal COVID-19 public health emergency in May 2023. The field of WBE has reached a critical juncture in determining the future of how SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance data …

The Relationship Between Police Stress And Officer Misconduct, Leobardo Lopez-Cristobal

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Recent high-profile and controversial police-related incidents have sparked an intensified public discourse on police misconduct. This has resulted in increasing calls for greater accountability and transparency within U.S. police agencies. Much of the existing research on police misconduct centers around two competing explanations: the "bad apples" perspective, which attributes misconduct to individual officers, and the "bad barrels" perspective, which points to systemic or organizational factors (Rojek, Decker, & Wagner, 2015). However, one factor that has been underexplored in the literature is the role of police stress in influencing deviant police behavior. Previous studies suggest a potential link between police-related stress …

How Culture Impacts Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors In College-Aged Chinese Americans, Hui Ching Chan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Adolescents are the most vulnerable to mental health issues in the United States, however, they are the least likely to receive relevant professional services. Particularly, young Chinese American adults who are influenced by traditional Chinese culture retain a higher reluctance to mental health-related help-seeking behaviors.

Chinese American culture is co-constructed with families through parents’ worldviews, parenting styles, socio-economic statuses, and English proficiency. Several studies also suggest that mothers and fathers in Chinese American families play distinct roles in shaping youngsters’ perceptions of mental health awareness. As a result, the culture perceived from families has a significant impact on young Chinese …

The Effects Of A Healthcare Simulation Escape Room On Clinical Judgment: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jennifer Peltier

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: The predominant pedagogy of traditional lecture-based learning should include meaningful active content to foster clinical judgment, engagement, and knowledge retention. Innovative active learning strategies must be tested to understand if they can better facilitate nursing learners’ readiness for practice.

Aims: This research study investigated the impact of a healthcare simulation escape room as an innovative platform on individual and team clinical judgment to determine whether this active learning strategy can benefit nursing learners’ preparedness and increase clinical judgment.

Method: A randomized, double-blinded, waitlist control design was used to examine the effect of a healthcare simulation escape room on clinical …

The Community School Model In Idaho: Exploring Implementation In Urban And Rural Settings, David John Melville

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the implementation of the community school model in Idaho, with a focus on the distinct experiences and outcomes in both urban and rural settings. The community school model is designed to integrate academic, health, and social services to provide a deep supportive environment for students, families, and the community that ties to improvements to student learning, successes of school outputs, and engagements with the community. The primary aim of this research study is to review and assess the effectiveness of the community school model in Idaho, and how it enhances educational outcomes, promotes community engagement, and addresses …

Equine-Assisted Learning: An Analysis Of Path Intl. Programs, Gretchen Schulz

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is an expanding field within Equine-Assisted Services (EAS). Following in the steps of other EAS professional organizations, The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International, (PATH Intl.) launched an EAL certification program for facilitators in 2023. Previously published research has identified a number of positive outcomes among EAL participants, such as increased motivation and positive attitudes towards reading, increased tolerance for ambiguity, lower perceptions of burnout, improved well-being, decreased depression and anxiety, increased self-efficacy, and greater self-awareness and reflection. As the field of EAL and the number of trained EAL facilitators grows, data on programs across the country …

Predictors In Help-Seeking Intentions For Friends With Eating Disorders, Allie M. Robb

Honors Theses

Emotional intelligence is a significant factor in one’s well-being as high emotional intelligence predicts sound mental well-being and a better quality of life as one can accurately understand emotions (Kulkarni & Velhal, 2023). However, low emotional intelligence has also been found to be a predictor not only of the development of mental health disorders but also have the lowest intentions to seek help (Ciarrochi et. al., 2002; Kulkarni & Velhal, 2023). Because they are unlikely to seek help, it is important for others who see the potential cause to help intervene. The purpose of this study is to investigate the …

A Hybrid Approach Of Vision Transformers And Cnns For Detection Of Ulcerative Colitis, Syed Abdullah Shah, Imran Taj, Syed Muhammad Usman, Syed Nehal Hassan Shah, Ali Shariq Imran, Shehzad Khalid

All Works

Ulcerative Colitis is an Inflammatory Bowel disease caused by a variety of factors that lead to a serious impact on the quality of life of the patients if left untreated. Due to complexities in the identification procedures of this disease, the treatment timeline and quality can be severely affected, leading to further consequences for the sufferer. The difficulties in identification are due to high patients to healthcare professionals ratio. Researchers have proposed variety of machine/deep learning methods for automated detection of ulcerative colitis, however, several challenges exists including class imbalance problem, comprehensive feature extraction and accurate classification. We propose a …

Examining Primary Teachers' Concerns, Self-Efficacy, Attitudes, Intentions, And Challenges Of Implementing Inclusive Pedagogy In English Literacy Classrooms For Bilingual Dyslexic Students In The Uae, Robin Ogdol, Jose Roan Adorna, Romee Capate, Aisha Alteneiji

All Works

The United Arab Emirates has embraced inclusive education across all academic levels since 2006. However, the degree of teacher acceptance of inclusive practice varies. This mixed-methods case study investigated 48 primary school teachers’ concerns, self-efficacy, attitudes, and intentions regarding inclusive pedagogy in English literacy for bilingual dyslexic students aged 5-11. It also identified challenges faced by teachers in mainstream classes. Using correlation analysis, results showed negative associations between teachers’ concerns and efficacy, attitudes, and intentions for inclusive practices. On the other hand, positive associations were found between teacher efficacy, attitude, and intentions for inclusive practices. Challenges included reconciling the bilingual …

Recent Advances In Transition Metal-Based Photocatalytic Heterojunctions For Algal Inhibition And Water Disinfection: A Review, Yaksha Verma, Gaurav Sharma, Jibran Iqbal, Mu Naushad, Chin Wei Lai, Amit Kumar, Pooja Dhiman, Ackmez Mudhoo

All Works

Sustainable energy production and effective water pollution control are critical global priorities. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) and waterborne pathogens pose significant threats to water quality and public health, necessitating efficient and eco-friendly treatment methods. Transition metal-based photocatalytic heterojunctions offer promising solutions by leveraging the unique properties of transition metals to enhance photocatalytic efficiency. This review examines recent advances in these heterojunctions employed for algal inhibition and water disinfection, discussing various heterojunction type (including conventional, p-n, Z-scheme, S-scheme, and Schottky heterojunctions), and their synthesis methods. We elucidate the mechanisms involved, highlighting improved electron transfer, reduced recombination rates, and broadened light absorption. …

Human Vs. Ai Counseling: College Students' Perspectives, Mohammad Amin Kuhail, Nazik Alturki, Justin Thomas, Amal K. Alkhalifa

All Works

Transitioning to college life while navigating the complexities of emerging adulthood can be stressful. In some instances, it may even lead to the onset of mental health problems or the exacerbation of existing issues. While therapeutic resources are typically available in tertiary educational contexts, social stigma may lead to service underutilization. Additionally, high student-to-therapist ratios can create bottlenecks to access when such services are sought. Offering an adjunct to traditional campus counseling services, AI chatbots can potentially address such issues. Chatbots can provide flexible, accessible, anonymous, and cost-effective first-line support, improving access and extending traditional treatment methodologies. This study evaluates …

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Enhanced Through Videoconferencing For Night Eating Syndrome, Binge-Eating Disorder And Comorbid Insomnia: A Case Report, Bernou Melisse, Teresa Arora

All Works

Background: Both night-eating syndrome and binge-eating disorder are characterized by episodes of excessive food consumption, significant distress, and functional impairment related to maladaptive eating behaviors. Both types of eating disorders are associated with poorer sleep quality. Cognitive behavioral therapy has demonstrated good outcomes for binge-eating disorder; however, it is unknown if it is effective for night-eating syndrome and comorbid insomnia. Case presentation: The current paper presents a case report of a Dutch woman in her 40’s receiving cognitive behavioral therapy-enhanced for night-eating syndrome, as well as binge-eating disorder. However, to tailor the intervention to her specific needs, throughout the course …

Suboptimal Attainment Of Global Goals Of Human Rights, Universal Health Coverage And Sustainable Development Goals In Gaza During 2023–2024, Mohammed Alkhaldi, Bhavana Akilan, Maha Hoteit, Mohamed Elhadidy, Suzanne Morrison

All Works

The Israel military occupation, ongoing for over 75 years, has profoundly impacted the health and well-being of Palestinians. Despite longstanding calls for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and sustainable development, the response of global health systems and organizations to crises such as the recent large-scale military assault on Gaza in October 2023 has been inadequate. There is a critical need to examine why these global health approaches have failed and how they can be restructured to address the unique challenges in Gaza effectively. This analysis aims to analyze the shortcomings of global health strategies in the context of the Gaza crisis …

Recovering Constitutional Identity In Colonial South India: Sedition, Sovereignty, And Small-C Constitutionalism In Pudukkottai, Bharath Gururagavendran

National Law School Journal

Constitutional identity is easiest to identify when it has already been credentialed: by a constitutional text, constituent authorisation, or judicial recognition. What remains visible when those markers are absent? Through a historically grounded study of the ‘Little Kingdom’ of Pudukkottai, a princely state in colonial South India, this article examines whether constitutional identity can be recovered from the small-c life of a polity whose opportunities for formal constitution-making were structurally foreclosed. Pudukkottai had no big-C moment. Its constitutional life, if it had one, must be reconstructed from less authoritative materials. The article argues that the absence of a constitutional text …

Regulatory Approaches To Consumer Protection In The Financial Sector And Beyond: Toward A Smart Disclosure Regime?, Nydia Remolina Leon, Yvonne Ai-Chi Loh, David R. Hardoon

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Traditionally, consumer and data protection policies evolved from issues of consent and information disclosure. The purpose of these regulatory approaches is the protection of consumers by reducing some contracting failures, such as asymmetries of information and a lower bargaining power, especially in transactions involving complex issues such as financial products and sensitive personal data. In the past, regulators have responded to privacy and consumer protection by adopting what this paper refers to as an “imperfectly informed regime”, in which consumers do not receive full information about the risks associated with their decisions, even if they are still protected through a …

Factors Impeding Mental Health Help-Seeking: A Literature Review, Justin Benner

University Honors Theses

This article is an examination and review of a selection of research articles published in relation to factors that serve as barriers that inhibit the mental health help seeking process. Untreated mental illness is a significant problem within the United States, with a reported more than half of adults within the United States not receiving treatment. In order to discover possible causes, 28 articles all released within the last 20 years, had a primary focus on barriers to mental health treatment seeking and featured adult populations within the United States were chosen. Findings where that stigma both serves as a …

The Role Of Christianity In Shaping Agrarian Policies And Environmental Interactions: A Comparative Analysis Of The Uk And The Netherlands, Grace N. Brimble

University Honors Theses

This thesis explores the enduring influence of Protestant Christianity on agrarian practices and environmental policies in the UK and the Netherlands, focusing on how historical religious values shape modern ecological and political landscapes. Despite increasing secularism, Protestant ethics--emphasising stewardship, diligence, and moral responsibility--persist culturally, influencing debates on sustainability, rural identity, and land use. Using case studies such as nitrogen policy protests in the Netherlands and post-Brexit agricultural transitions in the UK, this analysis highlights the symbolic role of Christian values in framing resistance and adaptation to contemporary challenges. The research combines discourse analysis and ethnographic perspectives to uncover the interplay …

What Is The Evidence? Updates In The Use Of Antenatal Corticosteroids For Patients At Risk Of Preterm Birth, Moti Gulersen, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Antenatal corticosteroids have long been considered one of the most important antenatal therapies available for pregnant patients at risk of preterm birth based on the associated reduction of neonatal morbidity and mortality following their administration. However, despite decades of research since their incorporation into routine clinical practice, a number of key questions related to antenatal corticosteroid use remain. These include evaluating the impact of antenatal corticosteroids at gestational ages outside of the previously recommended window of 24 0/7–33 6/7 weeks of gestation, determining factors associated with optimal steroid timing in order to reduce unnecessary exposure, alterations in its dosing regimen, …

The Impact Of Generational Trauma In Educational Spaces: Inherited Strategies And Tools For Coping, Conrado Abando Julian Iii

Education Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the impact of generational trauma on educational spaces. This research involved narratives from eleven participants with diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds and explored the nuanced ways in which generational trauma impacted the academic settings and how it influences students' social, emotional, and academic experiences. It identified three primary themes: the perception of generational trauma, its impact on academic experiences, and the coping mechanisms employed by individuals. Findings revealed that participants experience innate pressure to excel, often driven by familial expectations, alongside a lack of support which hindered academic motivation. Coping mechanisms such as various involvement in …

An Exploration Of The Experiences That Influenced Black Males To Become Information Technology Professionals, Ronnie Mcmillian

Dissertations

Historically, the United States (U.S.) has led the world in the development of innovative high-tech solutions that increased employment opportunities, wages, productivity, and the economic growth of our nation. However, STEM workers are in great need to fill the millions of vacancies in the STEM workforce. Despite the increasing demand for STEM professionals, racial minorities, especially Blacks, continue to be disproportionately underrepresented in STEM. In order to adequately address the STEM workforce problem and remain competitive globally, the U.S. must motivate a much larger cross-section of its population to enter STEM fields. Since Blacks are disproportionately underrepresented in STEM, they …

Water, Rosario Sanchez, Gabriel E. Eckstein

Faculty Scholarship

As the new US administration begins its term in January 2025, its ability to address complex, interconnected challenges will shape the future of US-Mexico relations. From economic cooperation and migration to shared security concerns, the new president’s leadership will be pivotal in navigating these critical issues and strengthening bilateral ties between Mexico and the United States. Effective collaboration will be vital to building a more prosperous and stable North America.

To support this effort, the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute has prepared a comprehensive booklet as a practical roadmap for the incoming administration. This publication offers actionable recommendations across six priority …

Effect Of Fathers In Preemie Prep For Parents (P3) Program On Couple’S Preterm Birth Preparedness, Mir A. Basir, Siobhan M. Mcdonnell, Ruta Brazauskas, U. Olivia Kim, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed, Jennifer J. Mcintosh, Kris Pizur-Barnekow, Michael B. Pitt, Abbey Kruper, Steven R. Leuthner, Kathryn E. Flynn

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

Evaluate the effect of fathers’ participation in the Preemie Prep for Parents (P3) program on maternal learning and fathers’ preterm birth knowledge.

Methods

Mothers with preterm birth predisposing medical condition(s) enrolled with or without the baby’s father and were randomized to the P3 intervention (text-messages linking to animated videos) or control (patient education webpages). Parent Prematurity Knowledge Questionnaire assessed knowledge, including unmarried fathers’ legal neonatal decision-making ability.

Results

104 mothers reported living with the baby’s father; 50 participated with the father and 54 participated alone. In the P3 group, mothers participating with the father (n = 33) had greater …

Demonstrating Feasibility Of Ultrasound-Sensitive Microbubbles Delivery To Treat Disruptions In The Blood Brain Barrier Endothelium, Rubens Jourdain

Theses and Dissertations

Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is one of the main causes of dementia. VCID is caused by age and other genetic factors that lead to disruptions in the blood brain barrier (BBB) and allow blood components to enter the brain. The currently available treatments of VCID include opening the BBB with high-frequency-ultrasound to deliver drugs to the brain. However, this only treats the already developed disease. Consequently, we developed a new drug delivery system whose goal is to restore the brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC) lining the blood vessel. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility …

The Lasting Psychological Effects Of Juvenile Arrests, Nadia Olivia Bortolin

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the enduring psychological consequences, specifically depression and anxiety, stemming from juvenile arrests and their influence on adulthood. Literature has demonstrated impacts on juvenile arrests from cultural, socioeconomic, family dynamics, and environmental elements. This study addresses a notable gap in understanding the long-term impact on mental health and employment. Research indicates a sensitivity to outcomes based on the age of arrest, with early adolescent arrests having profound effects on development and an increased likelihood of subsequent criminal activities. Developmental and risk factors, such as socioeconomic challenges and pubescent difficulties, contribute to persistent delinquent behaviors into adulthood. Some studies …

A Machine Learning Approach For Survival Analysis Of Transplanted Kidneys Based On Donors’ And Recipients’ Factors., Alain Edward Despeignes

Theses and Dissertations

Over seven thousand people on average die each year in the United States waiting for an organ transplant due to the shortage of donated organs. With this alarming concern, efforts from the health organizations like the United Network Organ Sharing (UNOS) and government officials have considered avenues to remedy this distress, one of which is to investigate the characteristics among donors and recipients that affects the longevity of donated organs. The goal of this project is to investigate the survival time of transplanted kidneys from 1987 to 2018 with regards to the donors’ and the recipients’ characteristics including gender, ethnicity, …

Utilizing Self-Management Strategies To Increase Staff Productivity In An Aba Clinic, Jasmine Margarita Hernandez-Morris

Theses and Dissertations

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), self-management is defined as an individual's behavior change strategies and tactics implemented to achieve a desired behavioral outcome. Both clinicians and researchers aim to develop and implement efficient self- management strategies that enhance staff performance, ultimately driving positive outcomes for the clients they serve. At this time, the research regarding the use of self- management strategies to increase staff fluency is limited. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of using self-management strategies to increase fluency in administering a verbal operant card set. Six staff members from an ABA clinic in Central Florida were recruited for …

Intent Visualization In Human-Agent Teams, Rahul Tushar Mehta

Theses and Dissertations

Despite advances in autonomous systems, effective collaboration between humans and intelligent agents remains a significant challenge, particularly in shared-control scenarios. This study investigates how intent visualization affects human-agent collaboration in telecollaboration scenarios, examining its impact on team performance, operator trust, and workload. Using a custom simulation environment and Wizard-of-Oz methodology, we conducted an experiment with 13 participants who completed exploration tasks under two conditions: a baseline interface and an enhanced interface with intent visualization. Results showed that while intent visualization did not significantly improve objective performance metrics, it led to a 22.6\% increase in explicit disagreements between operators and the …

Breaking The Procrastination Barrier, Bianca Ebanks

Theses and Dissertations

Procrastination is a common barrier to productivity, impacting individuals' ability to achieve goals, especially in academic and professional settings. This study investigates a mixed-methods online intervention combining Behavioral Analysis (BA) principles with mindfulness exercises to reduce procrastination. The aim was to develop a human-centered, personalized intervention that utilizes behavioral reminders and mindfulness techniques to address procrastination in 43 participants. Participants' procrastination levels were assessed using the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS), and interventions were tailored based on individual procrastination tendencies. Reminders were sent via email or text, with timing adjusted to participants’ specific needs. The intervention also included mindfulness exercises designed …

Investigating The Association Of Total Cholesterol Level And Odds Of Angina In Women Over 40: A Cohort Study Using Data From The Framingham Heart Study, Katelyn Mitchell

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Objective To investigate the association between total cholesterol level and the odds of experiencing angina in women over the age of 40.

Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted using a subset of the cohort from the Framingham Heart Study to create a multivariable logistic regression model for analysis. Out of the 4,434 participants in the Framingham cohort, 2,148 participants were women over the age of 40 and included in this study.

Results Of the participants who experienced angina (n=308) in this study, 62% had high cholesterol at the baseline. After controlling for age, women with high cholesterol had 2.03 …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Regarding Water Quality, Nitrate Contamination, And Related Health Issues Among Nebraska Healthcare Professionals, Jessenia Hincapie

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Nitrate contamination in drinking water is a public health concern, particularly in agricultural regions. Healthcare professionals often address water quality issues but may lack sufficient knowledge regarding the health effects of nitrate contamination. This study evaluates whether Nebraska healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes about nitrate contamination predict their behaviors in addressing this issue.

Methods: A survey was administered to healthcare professionals across Nebraska to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding nitrate contamination in drinking water. A total of 462 respondents participated. Generalized linear regression analysis was employed to assess the impact of knowledge and attitudes regarding nitrate contamination …