Digital Commons Network^™

Expanding Neurological Interventions: An Aquatic-Based Occupational Therapy Toolkit For Inpatient Rehabilitation, Kate Jannelle Rye

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Objective: The objective of this project was to develop an evidence-informed aquatic therapy toolkit aimed at improving occupational therapy practitioners’ self-efficacy in planning aquatic interventions for individuals with neurological injuries.

Methods: This project utilized a quality improvement approach, involving the development of a toolkit, an in-service educational training, and a hands-on skills session. Practitioner self-efficacy was measured using a modified General Self-Efficacy Scale, which was administered before and after the educational training and hands-on skills session. Guided reflections and feedback from occupational therapy practitioners were also utilized to evaluate self-efficacy and the applicability of the toolkit.

Outcomes: Participation in the …

Examining Demographic And Contextual Differences In Stress-Related Sport Interference Among U.S. Collegiate Sport Participants, Heather Tran

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Collegiate athletes experience a range of stressors that may interfere with sport performance; however less is known about how stress-related sport interference varies across demographic groups and contexts. Guided by the transactional model of stress and coping, this study examined differences in stress-related sport interference by gender, race/ethnicity, and year in school, as well as across situational contexts (training, competition, and life outside of sport). Data were drawn from a secondary dataset of 288 collegiate sport participants who completed the Sport Interference Checklist (SIC). Independent samples t-test and analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to examined demographic differences, and a …

Treatment And Recovery Of Mucoceles In Brass Musicians: The Performance Trap And Its Consequences, David D. Torres

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This dissertation examines the treatment and recovery of oral mucoceles in professional brass musicians through a qualitative case study combining personal narrative, semi-structured interviews, and analysis of medical and pedagogical literature. I interviewed four professional trumpet players who experienced mucoceles and lip trauma, and three medical professionals with relevant expertise. My own case serves as the primary study, documenting 15 years of scar tissue management following surgical excision and an immediate return to demanding performance. Medical literature treats mucocele excision as a routine procedure with recovery measured in weeks. Brass pedagogy literature assumes healthy lips and offers no guidance for …

Examining The Effects Of Tailored Ergonomic Interventions On Reducing Musculoskeletal Disorders For Taxi Drivers, Amal Youssouf

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Taxi drivers are frequently exposed to prolonged sitting, whole-body vibration, limited rest opportunities, and psychosocial stressors, placing them at increased risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This can be mitigated with the use of ergonomics, which changes one's environment to match an individual's needs within the context and demands of the job. Although ergonomics is a recognized area of occupational therapy (OT) practice, current research is limited to office-based or computer-related settings, leaving a gap in OT-led ergonomic interventions tailored for professional drivers. This capstone project aimed to determine whether OT-based ergonomic strategies, along with an ergonomic checklist as a guideline …

Read The Fine Print, Kayla Lockwood

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

read the fine print is a two-floor art installation that investigates how midcentury domestic ideology structured bodies, behavior, and perception through visual, spatial, and material systems. Rather than recreating a home interior, it examines how domestic order was engineered across the United States through color coding, planning diagrams, model environments, controlled decoration, and institutional messaging. The two-floor arrangement mirrors the operation of these systems across registers, moving from overt structures of order to quieter, often obscured consequences. By rendering policy, hierarchy, and expectation materially, the installation invites viewers to consider domesticity as a designed system: a set of practices, forms, …

Assessing The Reliability And Minimal Detectable Change Of Frontal Plane Projection Angles During Functional Tasks In Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain, Isabella Keefer, Derrick Smith, Brendan Yawn

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose/Hypothesis: Single-limb dynamic weight-bearing tasks are frequently used to evaluate lower extremity and trunk movement patterns in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP). These individuals frequently exhibit abnormal frontal plane projection angles (FPPAs) at the trunk, pelvis, and lower extremities, indicative of altered movement patterns such as knee valgus, pelvic drop, and lateral trunk lean. While test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) values for various FPPAs have been established in pain-free individuals, comprehensive data for individuals with PFP remain limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate test-retest reliability, as well as the standard error of measurement (SEM) …

Integrating Social-Emotional Learning To Foster Regulation And A Positive Classroom Climate, Klarika Meghan V. Alquisada

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Social-emotional learning (SEL) supports the development of emotional regulation, interpersonal skills, and meaningful participation in academic environments. Increasing regulatory demands within classrooms highlight the need for structured approaches that support both educators and students in maintaining engagement and fostering positive learning environments. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are uniquely positioned to collaborate with educators to integrate regulation-focused strategies within daily classroom routines.This quality improvement project aimed to develop and implement an OT-informed SEL program for educators serving students with diverse learning needs. Teachers received consultation and tailored SEL strategies, implemented them for 5 weeks, and provided feedback on their effects on …

Unknowing Sacrifices: Public Health And Radiation Illness In New Mexico And Nevada, 1940s-1960s, Beatriz Avila-Marquez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The detonation of the first atomic bomb in the early morning of July 16, 1945, in New Mexico welcomed the atomic age that forever changed the world. After that day, thousands of lives were lost due to nuclear weapons, and hundreds of thousands more continued to suffer from the effects of atomic testing. The Atomic Energy Commission, fueled by the arms race of the Cold War, chose Nevada to continue the United States’ nuclear weapons testing. Knowledge of the dangers of radiation exposure, the effects of radiation, and techniques to prevent exposure are now available in part due to the …

Enhancing Psychosocial Well-Being And Quality Of Life In Parkinson’S Disease: Integrating Patient Experiences And Physical Therapists’ Expertise, Adetayo Adeoti Babarinde

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by a wide range of non-motor symptoms that often affect the quality of life of persons with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) even more profoundly than the motor symptoms typically associated with the condition. These non-motor symptoms include olfactory and gastrointestinal dysfunction, cognitive impairments, sleep disturbances, and psychological and social concerns. Psychosocial concerns include the mental, emotional, and social impact of PD on an individual’s functioning and, overall well-being. They reflect the interplay between symptoms of the disease, psychological development and functioning, personal relationships, and environmental factors. Mental health and psychosocial concerns such as depression, anxiety, fear …

Got Sleep?: The Introduction Of Sleep Hygiene To Justice Involved Individuals, Charisma Lynn Cato

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Individuals transitioning out of incarceration often experience challenges with sleep due to the residual effects of confinement. Although this is common among justice-involved individuals, there is limited research on how to address their sleep hygiene self-efficacy after release. Furthermore, despite the wide use of social-emotional learning (SEL) across multiple disciplines, little is known about its influence on sleep-related behavior change in re-entry populations. To address this, the Got Sleep program, designed and implemented at Hope for Prisoners (HOPE), a community site geared toward re-entry assistance, integrated occupational therapy (OT) principles and an SEL approach with practical sleep hygiene strategies to …

And Now It Blooms And Sings: The Music And Poetry Of Noël By Clémence De Grandval, Nicholas Stephen Carozza

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This document presents a historical background with poetic and musical analysis of Noël for voice, oboe, and piano by Clémence de Grandval (1828–1907) to contextualize the work within the lives of the composer, performers, and poet. Noël occupies an important period in Grandval’s life as one of the few pieces composed after 1900, and features a unique instrumentation of voice, oboe, and piano. The work is a musical setting of poetry by Nobel laureate Sully Prudhomme and was dedicated to oboist Louis Bleuzet and baritone Paul Daraux. This document presents biographical information, compositional background, records of performances, and analysis to …

Resilience Of Orthodontic Sealants Against Degradation And Microbial Adhesion: A Comparative Study, Michelle X. Cui

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background:

White spot lesions are one of the most common complications encountered during orthodontic treatment. These lesions begin as demineralization of enamel around the appliance due to plaque buildup, resulting in compromised aesthetics. As they continue to develop, white spot lesions progress to cavitation, potentially threatening pulpal vitality, resulting in an increased financial burden for patients. Preventative strategies include patient education, consistent oral hygiene protocols, and the use of fluoride-releasing agents. Orthodontic sealants such as Opal® Seal™ (Ultradent) (OS) and L.E.D. Pro Seal® (Reliance) (PS) have been developed to release and recharge fluoride, thereby reducing the incidence of white spot …

Cardiac Computed Tomography And Echocardiography Integration For Chronic Secondary Mitral Regurgitation Quantification, Abdulameer Jasim Jawad Al-Gburi

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether it would be possible to reclassify the severity of secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) using an integrated mitral regurgitant volume (RVol) derived from computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography data. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ibn al-Bitar Specialized Center for Cardiac Surgery, Baghdad, Iraq. Systolic CT data of patients with isolated secondary MR were evaluated from June 2023 to December 2025. The image with the highest regurgitant orifice area (ROA) and the smallest left ventricular volume was chosen from the CT systolic phase. To calculate the integrated RVol (iRVol), the velocity …

Multiple Intracranial Aneurysms: An International Consensus Statement, Stavropoula Tjoumakaris

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Introduction: Multiple intracranial aneurysms (MIAs) pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, and widely used rupture-risk scores have not been validated for this subgroup. Research question: To develop expert-based recommendations for the diagnosis, rupture-risk assessment, treatment selection, and follow-up of patients with MIAs. Material and methods: A modified Delphi process was conducted. After topic generation from the literature, iterative questionnaires were administered anonymously online to invited experts. Consensus was prespecified as ≥70% agreement. Twenty-six of 35 invitees (74.3%) completed the survey. Results: Consensus identified the ruptured lesion in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) using computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and 3D rotational digital subtraction …

The Purdue Rising Scholars Experience: Exploring Student Success, Robert M. Stwalley Iii, Carol S. Stwalley, Roger Tormoehlen

Purdue University Press Books

Many intelligent low-socioeconomic status high school students correctly view STEM majors as a way out of poverty, but the challenges to ultimate success are plentiful. For those who applied but did not initially gain admittance into an engineering department, the Rising Scholars program at Purdue University offered these undergraduates a pathway through college that brought them into contact with a network of professional mentors, including university professors, staff, and graduate students. Program participants were also provided opportunities to engage in team-building activities and teaching seminars that involved writing research papers focused on postgraduate careers. Although no longer in operation, the …

Application And Controversy Of "No Penalty For First Violation" Policy In The Field Of Food Safety, Shao Jiang

Food and Machinery

After the revision of Article 33 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Administrative Penalty in 2021 established the "no penalty for first violation" system, its application in the field of food safety has attracted significant attention from both academic and practical communities. This study starts with Article 126 of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, and combine with the List of Administrative Violations Not Subject to Penalties for First Offenses issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation and local practices, such as Beijing's rule that "expired food is exempt from penalty …

Near-Freezing Point Concentration Of Orange Juice Based On Absorption Membrane Distillation, Ge Sheng, Chen Dong, Liu Jizhou, Cao Xu

Food and Machinery

[Objective] Aiming at the issues such as solute loss during the freeze-point concentration of heat-sensitive liquid materials, a near-freezing point concentration device based on absorption membrane distillation is designed and fabricated. The feasibility of the device is verified using orange juice as the research subject. [Methods] A mathematical model of the device is established. Using orange juice as the feed liquid and lithium bromide solution as the absorption solution, this paper calculates and analyzes the variation laws of the concentration rate and energy consumption ratio of concentration with factors such as membrane pore diameter, membrane tube wall thickness, mass concentration …

Effect Of Pepsin Limited Enzymatic Hydrolysis From Wheat Bran Protein On Lipid Lowering In Vitro, Zheng Wenjing, Bai Yang, Liu Cong, Jiri Gala, Wang Jilite, Zhang Yanxia, Li Yuxin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To elucidate the lipid-lowering effect of wheat bran protein from the Hetao region and provide a scientific basis for its deep processing and high-value utilization. [Methods] This paper employs wheat bran protein from the Hetao region as the raw material to prepare pepsin limited enzymatic hydrolysates (P1, P3, P6, and P 12), and investigates their effect on lowering lipid. [Results] Different enzymatic hydrolysates vary in vitro lipid-lowering effects, and the higher mass concentration of samples means a better effect. The cholesterol micelle solubility inhibition rate of 5 mg/mL wheat bran enzymatic hydrolysate P 1 is (45.47±0.36) %, significantly higher …

Vacuum Concentration Process And Antioxidant Activity Of Pressed Walnut Green Husk Juice, Kuerban Gulimire, Chen Kai, Wang Jing, Li Yue

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To explore the quality change trend of walnut green husk juice during the concentration process. [Methods] This paper optimizes the concentration process by the single factor combined with response surface tests, and investigates the effects of temperature, time and rotation speed on the mass fractions of polyphenols and polysaccharides. The antioxidant activity of walnut green husk concentrate is detected, and polyphenols in walnut green husk juice are identified and quantitatively analyzed by adopting high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). [Results] The optimal concentration process of walnut green husk juice is the time of 32 min, temperature of 60 ℃, and …

Artificial Meat 3d Printing Technology And Application Progress, Shi Zhongfen, Yang Zishan, Chen Hongyan, Tian Sumei

Food and Machinery

With the global population growth and increasing pressure on resources and the environment, traditional meat production methods face severe challenges. In contrast, artificial meat, a sustainable meat substitute, has received widespread attention in recent years. As an additive manufacturing technology for the precision construction of food structures, food 3D printing technology has shown great application potential in artificial meat. This paper reviews the application progress of food 3D printing technology in artificial meat manufacturing, focusing on artificial meat 3D printing technology based on plant protein and cell culture. Additionally, this paper analyzes the challenges faced by food 3D printing technology …

Exploring Bidirectionality In Global Health Partnerships: Perspectives From U.S. Pediatric Residency Programs., Anik Patel, Pauline Kamau, Justus Simba, Ashley Combs, Adelaide Barnes, Kathy Ferrer, Heather Haq, Duncan K. Hau, Lee Morris, Brittany Murray, Amy Rule, Reena P. Tam, Lisa Umphrey, Megan S. Mchenry

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Introduction Despite growing interest, little guidance exists to re-evaluate global health partnerships (GHPs) through promoting bidirectionality. This study aims to understand the perspectives of United States (U.S.) pediatric global health (GH) faculty on institutional bidirectional practices to inform future discussions with international collaborators. Methods An internally, iteratively developed REDCap-based online survey (REDCap, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN), by our diverse author group, collected qualitative data from January 18 to February 20, 2023. Free-text responses were reviewed and coded inductively, with findings framed to generate themes for subsequent engagement with international partners. Results Of the 88 U.S. programs that identify as having …

The Highlander Folk School: Incubator For Grassroots Democracy And Its Impacts On The Southern Civil Rights Movement, Kathleen Mcmichael Goodyear

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Despite the Highlander Folk School’s having played multiple vital roles in the Southern civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the general public remains unaware of Highlander, which is largely due to its having been omitted from most U.S. history survey course textbooks and ignored by most mainstream historians. These sources perpetuate the image propagated by the 1960s media that the movement was largely composed of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his fellow charismatic Black male ministers leading their flock of followers—but the movement was much more than that. Highlander’s rich history in nurturing Southern grassroots activism …

Level Of Comfort And Barriers To Pediatric Vaccination Among Pharmacy-Based Immunizers In California, Laressa Bethishou, Karl Hess, Richard Beuttler, Jeffery Goad

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Pharmacists are increasingly recognized as accessible immunizers, yet pediatric vaccination rates in community pharmacies remain lower than those for adults, likely due to unique barriers. This study aimed to assess the comfort level of pharmacy-based immunizers in California with administering vaccines to pediatric patients and to identify barriers limiting their participation in pediatric immunization.

Methods

An IRB-approved, cross-sectional survey was distributed electronically to pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians administering vaccines in California community pharmacies between November 2022 and February 2023. The survey measured comfort with vaccinating pediatric age groups, perceived barriers, and collected demographic data. Data analysis included …

An Evaluation Of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots As Alternatives To Specialized Software In Teaching Bayesian Pharmacokinetic Analysis, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective

Methods

Red, Blue, And Bordered: Factors Influencing Immigration Attitudes, Estefania Morales Vilchis

Political Science Student Papers and Posters

The paper will explore the various social and individual variables that will impact how people perceive immigration as either beneficial to society or a societal threat. Some of the primary variables that will be examined in detail are one’s political affiliation, age, and geographical location; this will address the profound "why" behind our current beliefs on newcomers. The study will particularly address the "Contact Hypothesis" versus "Group Threat Theory" through the lens of how one's personal experiences with immigrants, or lack of, will shape public opinion. The study will focus on the rising psychological issue of "demographic anxiety", specifically, fears …

Gut Dysbiosis And Microbial Metabolites In Atopic Dermatitis: Implications For Immune Regulation Along Gut-Skin Axis, Khushbakhat Alia, Hira Khan, Hamna Muzaffar, Nighat Perveen, Sara Alrashedi, Yusra Al Dhaheri, Yasir Waheed, Mohammed Tauqeer Alam, Muhammad Naseem, Khalid Muhammad

All Works

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial skin disorder characterized by immune dysregulation, impaired epidermal barrier, and strong microbial imbalance. Although genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers are established AD drivers, growing evidence highlights the gut skin axis as an important but underexplored AD pathogenesis factor. Gut microbiota dysbiosis, loss of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, and altered metabolite profiles, such as tryptophan derivatives and secondary bile acids, have been linked to systemic immune imbalance and skin inflammation. However, the precise mechanism by which gut microbial alterations influence cutaneous immunity remains unclear. This review synthesizes recent advances from clinical and experimental studies …

Phase Ii Trial Of Sodium Phenylbutyrate And Taurursodiol In Wolfram Syndrome, Fumihiko Urano, Bess A. Marshall, Stacy Hurst, Amy Robichaux-Viehoever, Saumel Ahmadi, Tamara Hershey, Gregory Van Stavern, Paulina Cruz Bravo, Jennifer Powers Carson, John Pesko, Kelly Fox, Nathalie Erpelding, Camille L Bedrosian

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PB&TURSO was associated with improved or stabilized pancreatic function, vision, and overall symptom burden in individuals with Wolfram syndrome, a rare and progressive degenerative disease.

Inclusion On The Margins: Exploring Multicultural Education In Predominantly White Areas, Suparna Bagchi

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

At a time when the Western world is facing major sociocultural and geopolitical turbulence through far-right and anti-immigration protests, it has become even more important to practise multicultural education. This is particularly pertinent in unique topographies that remain predominantly White, despite experiencing an increase in their global majority populations. This article is based on a doctoral study that explored teachers’, parents, and students’ experiences and understanding of multiculturalism in mainstream primary schools in an under-researched geographical location in southwest England. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with adult participants, students’ classroom activities, field notes, and classroom and corridor displays. This …

Repetition Without Learning: Nine Years Of Safeguarding Adults Review Involving Acquired Brain Injury., Alyson Norman, Hannah Steed, Lucy Milliner, Mark Holloway, Joshua Deacon

School of Psychology

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to produce an extensive review of safeguarding adult reviews (SARs) pertaining to individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) since 2014. This review examines the lessons learned and recommendations arising from these reviews as they relate to health and social care practice in England.Design/methodology/approachThe review presented and discussed findings across multiple reviews and then applied narrative analysis to synthesise the findings and recommendations from the SARs reviews.FindingsThe authors identified 22 SARs relating to people with ABI that matched the inclusion criteria. Four main themes were identified: (1) ABI-responsive safeguarding policies and legal frameworks, (2) training …

Perspectives On Physical Activity From People With Parkinson’S Disease Who Do Not Engage, Heather Hunter, Jennifer Freeman, Hilary Gunn

School of Health Professions

PurposeDespite substantial evidence supporting the benefits of physical activity, People with Parkinson’s disease (pwPD) struggle to remain active. Previous research on physical activity has largely focused on those already engaged. This study aimed to capture the perspectives of pwPD who perceived themselves as inactive.Materials and MethodsConstructivist Grounded Theory was used to explore the beliefs, attitudes, and meaning of physical activity in PwPD who self-identified as inactive. Twenty-one participants consented to participate and were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously, using a constant comparative approach.FindingsFive categories were developed: four that helped explain a lack …