Digital Commons Network^™

Allocating Recreation With Fairness At The Forefront: A Research-Based Planning And Management Guidebook, Kelsey E. Phillips, William L. Rice, Christopher A. Armatas, Nick Pitas, Suiwen (Sharon) Zou

Society and Conservation Faculty Publications

This guidebook aims to help recreation managers think through the nuances of distributing recreation opportunities with fairness and equity in the forefront and provide a recommended framework for allocation design in a river context. The information in this guidebook is supported by a systematic review of the recreation management literature, as well as qualitative interview data from 50 recreation managers across the U.S. We also explore the primary concerns of managers regarding allocation, user groups and stakeholders that must be engaged throughout the process, and allocation strategies that have gone well and poorly. We consider the pros and cons of …

Response Of The First Polar-2 Prototype To Polarized Beams, Merlin Kole, Nicolas De Angelis, Ana Bacelj, Franck Cadoux, Agnieszka Elwertowska, Johannes Hulsman, Hancheng Li, Grzegorz Łubian, Tomasz Kowalski, Gilles Koziol, Agnieszka Pollo, Nicolas Produit, Dominik Rybka, Adrien Stil, Jianchao Sun, Xin Wu, Kacper Zezuliński, Shuang-Nan Zhang

Faculty Publications

POLAR-2 is a dedicated gamma-ray polarimeter currently foreseen to be launched towards the China Space Station around 2027. The design of the detector is based on the legacy of its predecessor mission POLAR which was launched in 2016. POLAR-2 aims to measure the polarization of the Gamma-ray Burst prompt emission within the 30–800 keV energy range. Thanks to its high sensitivity to gamma-ray polarization, as well as its large effective area, POLAR-2 will provide the most precise measurements of this type to date. Such measurements are key to improve our understanding of the astrophysical processes responsible for Gamma-Ray Bursts. The …

Challenges Of The Fentanyl Epidemic: Understanding The Crisis, Analyzing The Analogs, And Investigating The Detection Methods, Sophia Hontzas

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The fentanyl epidemic has become a significant public health concern, identified by a rise in overdose deaths pertaining to the use of illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF). In 2021 alone, there were 70,601 overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl, emphasizing the severity of the crisis. This paper discusses the challenges posed by fentanyl and its analogs, investigating the origins, market dynamics, biological impacts, and the issues with detection and regulation. While fentanyl was initially created as a potent pain reliever, its misuse has grown due to the presence of new analogs. Case studies provide insight into how fentanyl rose in popularity and …

Lca Operational Carbon Reduction Based On Energy Strategies Analysis In A Mass Timber Building, Moein Hemmati, Tahar Messadi, Hongmei Gu, Mahboobeh Hemmati

Architecture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Buildings play a significant role in the rise of energy consumption and carbon emissions. Building operations are responsible for 28% of the world’s carbon emissions. It is crucial, therefore, to evaluate the environmental impact of various buildings’ operational phase in order to implement sustainable strategies for the mitigation of their energy usage and associated carbon footprint. While numerous studies have been conducted to determine the carbon footprint of conventional building operation phases, there are still a lack of actual data on the operational carbon (OC) emissions of mass timber buildings. There is also a lack of research pertaining to the …

A Collective Case Study Illustrating Effective Explicit Attention To Concepts In Middle Grades Classrooms, Emily Ruth Leckie

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study describes ways in which Explicit Attention to Concepts (EAC) is implemented in middle grades mathematics classrooms. The purpose is to describe specific components of lessons with high levels of EAC in middle grades classrooms and how teachers implement the EAC strategies, while taking into account the complex relationships within the classroom context. Research suggests that EAC is an important instructional component for students in developing conceptual understanding. This study is a collective case study which takes a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Eight teacher participants were selected based on videos of full lessons exhibiting high levels of EAC. …

Numerical Simulation Of The Atmospheric Lamb Waves Generated By The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Eruption Using A Shallow Water Approximation, Augustus Tropea

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

On January 15th, 2022 around 04:05 UTC the undersea volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai located near the South Pacific island of Tonga violently erupted, and a large amount of energy was released into the atmosphere. The atmospheric disturbances generated by this event were detected by equipment all around the world. Analysis of this data revealed that some of these atmospheric disturbances were Lamb waves generated by the volcanic eruption. Previous works have successfully modeled these types of waves by using a shallow water approximation. Here we present results for the homogeneous shallow water equations at earth scale using high resolution finite …

The Influence Of Block Characteristics On The In-Plane Settlement Disturbance Zone Of Dry-Stacked Coursed Ashlar Rock Walls, Eli Blackhat

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Dry-stacked stone has been used throughout the history of humankind as property dividers, retention walls, fortifications, temples, and other structures of significance. Many of these historical structures have been designated as culturally significant. In modern infrastructure, dry-stacked stone is often limited to retaining walls and is used more for its aesthetic appeal as opposed to its quality as a building material. The aim of this thesis is to add to engineering knowledge of how these structures behave. Specifically, on how in-plane differential settlement affects shear stress redistribution and vertical displacement within a structure as well as determining how block characteristics …

An Examination Of The Impact Of College Health And Wellness Courses On Mental Health – Two Paper Format: A Literature Review And A Comparison Of The Impact Of Two College Health And Wellness Courses On Affect, Perceived Stress, And Cognitive Distortions, Robin Phipps Woodall

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To compare the impact of two 15-week health and wellness courses on mental health measures in college students. Participants: College student volunteers were recruited after enrolling in one of two 15-week health and wellness courses. Methods: The control course (N=19) had an ethical emphasis, and the experimental course (N=21) had a cognitive behavioral emphasis. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and pre- and post-tests of the Perceived Stress Scale, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-General Form, and the Cognitive Distortion Questionnaire. Pre- to Post-Changes were analyzed using a mixed model repeated measures ANOVA between the two courses. Results: Both courses …

Mandibular Mayhem: An Uncommon Cause Of Facial Swelling, Kelci Butler, Kathryn Brady, Michael Tekippe

Advocate GME

No abstract provided.

Paths Of Least Resistance: A Geospatial Analysis Of The Integration Of Mississippian Communities In The Northwest Arkansas Ozarks, Joseph Jilek

Anthropology Undergraduate Honors Theses

During the Mississippi period (ca. AD 1050-1500), native groups occupying bluff shelters in the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks constructed three similarly sized mound-and-plaza centers: Goforth-Saindon (3BE0245), Collins (3WA0001), and Huntsville (3MA0022). Similarities in size and number of mounds suggests none rose to a position of power over the other and each integrated a separate community. Previous research hypothesizes that communities in emergent complex societies such as these are best defined by those who you interact with regularly, with mound centers less than a day’s travel from each other likely integrating the same communities. This study uses least-cost analysis, generating likely travel …

Diatom-Inferred Hydroclimate Variability In Marl Lake, Wi Over The Past ~2050 Years, Christian E. Sizemore

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hydroclimate variability in the Midwest has increased over the past few decades, as as evidenced by increases in average precipitation and frequency of extreme hydroclimate events. Understanding natural climate variability in this region will help communities in the Midwest to better prepare and mitigate the risks associated with extreme hydroclimate variability in the future. Natural lakes in the Midwest are often effective archives of hydroclimate; many have been shown to respond directly to changes in climate both locally and regionally. We extracted a 4.5-meter sediment core, representing approximately 2050 years of sediment accumulation, from the deepest part of Marl Lake …

Examining The Relationship Between Recidivism And Community Size For Previously Incarcerated Individuals, Kayla A. Harbison

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Within urban contexts, there has been progress in understanding recidivism through the lens of both individual criminogenic risk factors and ecological factors. However, little research has examined how these factors apply across different community sizes. The current study attempted to address this gap by examining how recidivism differs across different-sized communities at the county level, measured both dichotomously (metro, nonmetro) and across a rural-urban continuum. This study also explored the relationship between specific types of offenses and recidivism across different-sized communities. Archival data from Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) including 13,875 individuals released from prison within a five-year period was …

Gender As A Predictor Of Parent-Teacher Discrepancies In Child Adhd Evaluations: Consideration Of Gender Bias, Kaitlyn M. Saunders

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to advance the current literature on the relationship between informant (parent and teacher) perceptions of ADHD symptoms (hyperactivity, inattention) and gender, considering possible gender bias. Previous research demonstrates that there are consistent differences in the prevalence of ADHD between boys and girls in childhood, between girls in childhood versus adult women, and in the sex-ratio between community versus clinical samples. The current literature is mixed regarding what is causing these discrepancies in prevalence of ADHD, particularly about whether gender bias is a contributing factor. Data was collected from parents and teachers of 116 children (50% male; 50% …

Relationship Between Parenting Emotion Regulation, Parenting Style, And Child Emotion Regulation, Sydney R. Ward

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to contribute to the existing literature by investigating parenting factors that contribute to child emotional regulation (ER). Prior research suggests that while emotion dysregulation is not part of current diagnostic criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), children with ADHD often exhibit greater emotion regulation (ER) difficulties compared to their neurotypical peers. Research focused on parenting has found that parent’s ability to manage their emotions within a parenting context (parenting ER) as well as parenting styles (either positive or negative) are associated with child emotional regulation skills. However, previous research has not considered the influence of both …

The Lived Experiences Of Women Working In The Construction Industry As They Transition To Motherhood, Stacy Kolegraff

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research aimed to understand women’s transition to motherhood in the North American construction industry. This study sought to understand what it means to be a woman working in the construction industry while making the transition to motherhood, experiences of re-entry into the workplace, emergent essential themes, and the way women interpret their career decisions and opportunities leading up to, during, and following their transition to motherhood. A qualitative research design was employed to analyze the complexities and dimensions of complex career decisions, and the phenomenological research method was used to understand the full extent of the problem. A total …

Anterior Solid Dual-Rod Instrumentation And Fusion For Flexible Thoracolumbar Or Lumbar Spinal Deformities In Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis., Mckenna C. Noe, Kenneth A. Furlough, Richard M. Schwend

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Anterior spinal instrumentation and fusion (ASIF) via a thoracolumbar approach has been used to treat Lenke 5 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis for decades. Advances in ASIF technique and instrumentation have yielded significant improvements in rates of instrumentation failure, need for reoperation, instrumented and adjacent segment kyphosis, and pseudarthrosis. Despite reports of ASIF's success using these strategies, a detailed technical description with illustrations of this procedure in the literature is lacking.

METHODS: We present a detailed illustrated surgical technique guide for anterior solid-rod instrumentation via a thoracoabdominal approach in the correction of a Lenke 5 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis deformity.

RESULTS: ASIF …

Observation Of Gravitational Waves From The Coalescence Of A 2.5–4.5 M⊙ Compact Object And A Neutron Star, A. Abac, R. Abbott, I. Abouelfettouh, F. Acernese, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Francisco Llamas, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Wenhui Wang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We report the observation of a coalescing compact binary with component masses 2.5–4.5 M⊙ and 1.2–2.0 M⊙ (all measurements quoted at the 90% credible level). The gravitational-wave signal GW230529_181500 was observed during the fourth observing run of the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA detector network on 2023 May 29 by the LIGO Livingston observatory. The primary component of the source has a mass less than 5 M⊙ at 99% credibility. We cannot definitively determine from gravitational-wave data alone whether either component of the source is a neutron star or a black hole. However, given existing estimates of the maximum neutron star mass, we find …

Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness In Broiler Chickens And Its Implications For Welfare, Meat Safety, And Quality: A Review, Amanda Anthney, Anh Dang Trieu Do, Adnan A.K. Alrubaye

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The exponential increase in global population continues to present an ongoing challenge for livestock producers worldwide to consistently provide a safe, high-quality, and affordable source of protein for consumers. In the last 50 years, the poultry industry has spearheaded this effort thanks to focused genetic and genomic selection for feed-efficient, high-yielding broilers. However, such intense selection for productive traits, along with conventional industry farming practices, has also presented the industry with a myriad of serious issues that negatively impacted animal health, welfare, and productivity–such as woody breast and virulent diseases commonly associated with poultry farming. Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) …

Canine Parasites In Southern Nevada Urban Dog Parks: Paravec Study, Miklo Azrael A. Alcala

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While dogs are one of humans’ greatest companions, they also serve as hosts for a multitude of parasites. Urban dog parks serve as environments where the transmission of diseases is likely to occur. Exposure to infective agents, contained within the soil, intermediate hosts (e.g., rodents, rabbits), and feces, can directly affect the health of dogs and their owners. Other factors that can further influence canine health include age, previous diagnoses of parasites/diseases, and migration. Many dog owners visit dog parks to encourage socialization and exercise. Such activities are meant to improve health, but unawareness of microbiological organisms can lead to …

Trauma-Related Cognitions And Discrimination As Predictors Of Maladaptive Coping Among Marginalized Maltreated Youth, Shadie Burke

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Maltreated youth are at an increased risk for engaging in direct or indirect self-injurious behavior to cope with the aftereffects of a traumatic event. These behaviors are often associated with negative health outcomes, substance use and premature death. Existing research proposes a link between child maltreatment and indirect self-harm but the mechanism into why this occurs is unclear. The present study examined two key research questions: (1) which specific trauma-related cognitions, sexual identity and cultural factors predict direct self-injurious behavior (previous suicide attempt(s) and NSSI) among marginalized maltreated youth?; and (2) which specific trauma-related cognitions, sexual identity and cultural factors …

Analyzing Fe/Mg-Silicate Chemical Gardens As Analogs To Silicate-Rich Hydrothermal Chimneys On Early Earth And Mars, Nancy Alejandra Carman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Hydrothermal systems have been proposed as environments for prebiotic chemistry on early Earth. Ancient Mars was an ocean world and could also have had hydrothermal vents supporting biological or prebiotic processes. The Strytan Hydrothermal Field (SHF) in Iceland is a basalt-hosted alkaline vent that forms massive hydrothermal Mg-saponite chimneys and is a potential analog to basalt-hosted alkaline vents that may have existed at the Eridania basin on Mars, where saponite deposits are thought to have formed from ancient hydrothermal activity. Chemical garden experiments have previously been used to simulate aspects of hydrothermal chimney growth for other types of vent systems; …

Characterizing Gsk3Β Interaction And Kinetics Via Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, W A Bhagya De Silva

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase involved in several key signaling pathways, including glycogen metabolism, WNT/β-catenin, and Hedgehog signaling. Hyperactivity of GSK3β has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, type II diabetes, and some cancers. Therefore, GSK3β is of interest as a target for therapeutics. Lithium ion (Li+) is a classical inhibitor of GSK3β. Structurally similar beryllium ion (Be2+) is ~1000-fold more potent. Lithium and beryllium have demonstrated pathway-specific and cell type-specific inhibition of GSK3β, prompting an investigation into the inhibitory mechanisms and thermodynamic characteristics of the metal-enzyme interaction.Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a label-free …

Relationships Between Psychopathology, Impulsivity, And Disordered Eating, Repairer Etuk

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Impulsivity is defined by behaviors that are often performed without foresight or consideration for consequences. For some individuals, impulsive behaviors are excessive or dysfunctional, and can become extremely problematic, ultimately leading to impairments in quality of life and lowered psychological functioning. Impulsivity is a multifaceted factor, comprising several different domains that have been explored in past studies (e.g., trait impulsivity, decision making, response inhibition). However, previous research shows that trait impulsivity in adults is consistently associated with several psychiatric problems including substance abuse, eating disorders, and compulsive sexual behaviors. To date, few studies have investigated impulsivity, compulsive sexual behavior. disordered …

New Insights Into The Diverse Intraplate Volcanism Present Within The Howland And Baker Island United States Exclusive Economic Zone, Nicholas Foresta

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The origin of oceanic volcanism has been attributed to various mechanisms, such as upwelling mantle plumes, lithospheric extension driven decompression melting, and small-scale convective cells in the asthenosphere. Discovering the range of magmatic drivers present in the ocean basins aids in understanding mantle geodynamics and tectonic processes. A recent seafloor exploration campaign within the Howland and Baker Island (HBI) U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ; approximately near the equator and the International Date Line) resulted in the collection of multiple lava flow samples, which offer valuable insights into the complex origins and dynamics of intraplate seamounts. According to current absolute plate …

The Transformative Power Of Traditional Spirituals In "Spiritual Sketches" By Damien Sneed: A Study Of Musical Influence And Cultural Heritage, Haylee Glenn

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This doctoral project aims to comprehensively study Damien Sneed's life, work, and legacy by examining his musical career, the themes and inspirations that inform his art, and the impact he has had on classical music. Through a detailed analysis of compositions “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” “Deep River,” and “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” from Damien Sneed's "Spiritual Sketches," this study will shed light on how Sneed incorporates this important cultural and musical tradition into his compositions in an innovative way. This dissertation will explore the roots of the traditional spiritual, examine its significance during the Black …

Investigating Productivity Of Modular Buildings, Sibgat Mehedi Hasan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The modular construction industry has grown substantially, yet understanding of the relationships between project categories, sizes, and productivity remains limited. This study investigates these relationships in both permanent and relocatable modular construction projects across different sectors, including multifamily housing, dormitories, healthcare, education, retail, office, and workforce housing. Data from 303 permanent and 188 relocatable projects in the Modular Building Institute database were analyzed using Kendall's tau-b correlation and linear regression analyses. Key findings reveal that permanent projects outnumber and are generally larger than relocatable ones, with education being the most common project type. Significant positive correlations between project size and …

Image Processing Techniques For Water Droplet Penetration Time And Contact Angle Estimation, Sai Balaji Jai Kumar

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Water droplet behavior on soil surfaces plays a critical role in numerous environmental processes, including soil erosion, hydrological dynamics, and ecosystem health. Accurate characterization of soil water repellency, quantified by parameters such as water droplet penetration time (WDPT) and contact angles (WDCA), is essential for informed decision-making in agricultural management, forestry practices, and land-use planning. Despite the significance of these parameters, challenges exist in reliably estimating them due to the complex and dynamic nature of soil-water interactions. This thesis address challenges in estimating WDPT and WDCA, by leveraging state-of-the-art image processing techniques and machine learning algorithms. The research focuses on …

Scoring Single-Sample Pathway Expression Level Using Graph Autoencoder, Eunyoung Jang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Single-sample pathway analysis (ssPA) is a bioinformatics technique used to assess the activity of biological pathways in individual samples, rather than relying on aggregated data from multiple samples. This approach allows for the detection of pathway activation or suppression in single samples, making it a valuable approach in research and clinical applications where individual variability is critical. In this paper, we propose a deep-learning method that scores individual pathway expression levels using a graph autoencoder. The proposed method provides insights into the biological processes and leverages the high dimensionality of gene expression data by setting the nodes in the neural …

A Culturally Responsive Approach To Mindfulness And Mental Health Informal Education, Anastasia Jerbic-Gonzalez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The qualitative study examined the mental health aspects of marginalized elementary school students in addition to constructing and implementing a culturally responsive and sustaining mindfulness program to observe if there were improvements regarding emotional regulation and awareness. To achieve this, I constructed a culturally responsive and sustaining mindfulness program, implemented this program, and studied the responses from students. The research questions that fueled this study include: (1) What types of negative emotions do marginalized elementary students experience? What is the root cause for marginalized students experiencing negative emotions during their elementary school years? (2) How can incorporating mindfulness techniques embedded …

Preparing Anti-Racist Teachers: A Case Study Of Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions Of Racism And Program Coherence In Equity-Centered Teacher Preparation, Mildred Joyner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This case study explored the perceptions preservice teachers had regarding racism in educational contexts, how those perceptions were shaped by their teacher education program, and to what extent their teacher education program had coherence in preparing anti-racist teachers. Within the context of a large, minority serving institution in the Southwest preparing teachers for one of the most racially, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse districts in the country, the need to prepare anti-racist teachers who are able to recognize and remedy opportunity gaps for multi-marginalized students is evident. Because little research has focused on the perceptions and lived experiences preservice teachers have …