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Bachelor\u27s Degrees and Earnings in the Mountain West, 2022
No full textThis fact sheet presents 2022 data on the median annual earnings of bachelor\u27s degree holders for specific fields of degrees (FODs) across the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. This fact sheet also examines the share and earnings of individuals with less than a bachelor’s degree compared to bachelor’s degree holders in the three Mountain West metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) appearing among the 30 largest MSAs in the United States: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ; Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO; and Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV. The “Field of Bachelor\u27s Degree in the United States: 2022” report from the U.S. Census Bureau includes information on geographic characteristics, degree attainment, and the median annual earnings for each FOD
Predicting the Response of Tendon-Driven Prosthetic Finger with Hyperelastic Joints
No full textProperly designed prosthetics hands can enhance the quality of life for those suffering from limb loss. Recently, 3D-printed prosthetic hands are becoming common. In these prostheses, fingers flex through the tendons that are activated by motion of the wrist. To provide spring action, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) hyperelastic joints are used to connect digits to each other as well as to the wrist. While these designs are common, no model for the relationship between tendon tension and joint flexion is available. This work has developed a quasi-static virtual work-based model to predict the relationship between tendon forces and the flexion of the digits of a prosthetic finger with TPU joints. The equivalent spring stiffnesses of the joints were determined based on the results of flexural tests. The proposed model was verified experimentally to model errors \u3c 5.5 % under different loads. The proposed model can be used to design tendon-actuated fingers with TPU joints effectively
Latino or Hispanic-Owned Businesses in the Mountain West, 2017-2022
No full textThis fact sheet examines the growth of Latino or Hispanic-owned businesses in the largest metropolitan areas in the Mountain West between 2017 and 2022. The data are derived from the Brookings Institution’s “Charting the surge in Latino or Hispanic-owned businesses in the US” report, which highlights data on Latino or Hispanic-owned businesses in metropolitan and micropolitan areas across all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. This fact sheet focuses on data for the following metropolitan areas in the Mountain West: Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO; Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV; Albuquerque, NM; and Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Discovering the Shared Beliefs, Values, and Perceptions of Nursing Faculty Related to the Integration of Social Determinants of Health in the Nursing Curriculum: A Focused Ethnographic Study
No full textProblem & Significance: Research has demonstrated that individual health outcomes depend highly on social determinants of health (SDOH). Further, COVID-19 highlighted the need for healthcare professionals to be knowledgeable about SDOH. As such, the nursing profession has been called to address SDOH in all practice areas. Nursing faculty are called to prepare nursing students to enter the profession ready to tackle the needs of the patient populations they will encounter. Integrating SDOH in nursing education prepares students to provide holistic, patient-centered care, enhancing patient trust and satisfaction. It also equips them to develop targeted interventions that address SDOH, ultimately improving health outcomes. However, nursing programs have been slow to integrate SDOH into their curricula. Review of Literature: Previous research on curricular change has identified faculty buy-in as the most significant barrier, with resistance stemming from a lack of motivation, understanding, time, knowledge, or confidence in teaching the new content. Studies on SDOH in nursing education have primarily focused on teaching strategies and faculty perceptions but have not examined the role of institutional, academic, and faculty culture in shaping decisions to integrate SDOH concepts. Given the potential influence of these cultural factors, a study exploring how the nursing faculty culture impacts the integration of SDOH is needed to address existing gaps and support more effective curricular change. To date, no studies have examined how these cultures influence faculty decisions toward integrating SDOH. Methodology: This qualitative, focused ethnographic study used Leininger’s Cultural Care Diversity and Universality Theory to investigate the nursing faculty’s values, beliefs, and practices within a school of nursing to understand facilitators and barriers to curricular adoption of SDOH content. Sixteen undergraduate nursing faculty members from a university in the southwestern United States participated in this study. Data collection methods included in-depth interviews, observations in classrooms, clinical learning environments, and curriculum development meetings. Additionally, an in-depth review of pertinent documents was conducted. Data analysis procedures were performed based on Leininger\u27s four phases of data analysis. The interpretation of data was conducted with a focus on the social structure factors, identified by Leininger, that influenced the development of faculty decisions and actions within the school of nursing. Results: The data analysis identified three major themes influencing the integration of SDOH into the curriculum: Experiencing Change, The Value of Time, and Perceiving the Significance of the SDOH. The first theme, Experiencing Change, highlighted how faculty navigated multiple institutional shifts, including curricular revisions and leadership changes, which either facilitated or hindered SDOH integration. The second theme, The Value of Time, emerged as a significant barrier, with faculty expressing insufficient time to incorporate SDOH content effectively. The third theme, Perceiving the Significance of the SDOH, demonstrated that faculty with personal or professional experiences with SDOH were more intentional and confident in integrating SDOH into their teaching. These themes, influenced by cultural and social structure factors, shaped faculty decisions and actions regarding the integration of SDOH within nursing education. The findings from this focused ethnographic study had major implications for nursing education, nursing faculty, and administrators within schools of nursing
UNLV Admissions: Effect of the In-Person Interview on the Holistic Admissions of Minority Applicants Into The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
No full textPurpose/Methods: The goal of this study is to analyze the effect of an in-person interview on the admission of minority applicants into the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Using data from the 2014-2022 admissions cycles we assessed inter-rater reliability of the interviewer’s, differences in average in-person interview score between racial groups, and compared the difference in pre-interview scores between racial groups.
Results: We found that students identifying as Black scored higher on interviews than their White counterparts. However, a smaller proportion of them matriculated into the program due to the difference in multiple factors that are scored in the admissions process prior to the interview. We observed a high degree of consistency and reliability for average measures of interview scores across and between scorers (p\u3c .001). There were significant differences in pre-interview admission scores between races with White applicants scores being significantly higher than all other groups (p\u3c .001)
Plagiocephaly in Premature Infants: Enhancing NICU Caregiver Education
No full textObjective: To improve NICU nurses’ confidence in preventing and managing plagiocephaly in premature infants through a one-on-one educational session.Design: One-group post-test design for a quality improvement initiative. Setting: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center. Participants: 20 NICU Nurses. Measures: Post-session questionnaire including close-ended Likert scale and open-ended questions. Results: Mean scores ranged from 3.5 to 4.0, with the highest rating for the helpfulness of the session format (mean = 4.0) and the lowest for confidence in alternating infant positioning (mean = 3.5). Standard deviations ranged from 0 to 0.59, indicating strong agreement regarding the session format to be helpful, while moderate variability regarding confidence to implement specific strategies. Thematic analysis of responses identified several themes: reinforcement of learning, practical application, individualized learning experience, engagement and participation, personalized attention and support, and increased understanding. Conclusion: The one-on-one educational format effectively improved NICU nurses’ confidence and understanding of plagiocephaly prevention. Participants reported that the content provided a better understanding of the topic. These findings support the need for educational discussions and initiatives within the NICU to improve developmental outcomes for premature infants
Detection And Quantification of Total Airborne Fungi and \u3cem\u3eCoccidioides\u3c/em\u3e Species in Environmental Samples
No full textFungal exposure can cause acute and chronic illnesses or exacerbate existing illnesses. Some fungi are opportunistic pathogens and can lead to serious systemic fungal infections. In 2020, more than 150 million cases of severe fungal infections were reported globally resulting in an estimated 1.7 million deaths. Coccidioidomycosis, or Valley fever, is classified as a serious fungal infection caused by the fungi Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii. These particular fungi are prevalent in the soil of the Southwestern United States, including Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2024, there were a total of 269 cases of Valley fever reported in Nevada, and 239 of those cases were reported in Las Vegas. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the airborne concentration of both total fungi and Coccidioides species across different seasons, weather patterns (non-weather vs. weather event), and meteorologic factors (temperature, relative humidity, and wind) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Validation and optimization of a universal fungal PCR assay was conducted using 47 fungal species. The universal fungal PCR assay was able to detect all target fungal species. Two different master mixes (Universal Fast Advanced and TaqPath BactoPure) were tested to determine which one was more effective at overcoming PCR inhibitors. There was a statistically significant difference between the master mixes (p = 0.03). Environmental air samples from 13 sites across Las Vegas were collected in 2022 and analyzed with a validated universal fungal PCR assay and a Coccidioides species PCR assay. Selected samples were collected during high winds/dust advisories. The total concentration of airborne fungi was determined from a composite standard curve that was constructed using the universal fungal PCR assay and DNA from Aspergillus flavus and A. fumigatus. The mean total fungal concentration in the non-weather samples was 754 copies/m3 of air, and 741 copies/m3 of air in the weather event samples. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean concentration of fungi between the two sample types (p = 0.74). There was a significant difference in the mean total fungal concentration between seasons (non-weather p \u3c 0.001; weather event p = 0.03). There was also a significant correlation between total fungi and temperature in the non-weather environmental samples (r = 0.57; p \u3c 0.001). The environmental samples tested (n=185) were negative for Coccidioides DNA. While airborne Coccidioides was not detected at the sampling sites and timeframe of this study, the potential for exposure still exists. This study underscores the need to further understand the environmental distribution of Coccidioides species in Las Vegas, Nevada and its implications for public health. The methodology developed in this study can be used to detect environmental fungi, measure outdoor fungal concentrations, and enhance indoor and outdoor air quality surveillance of microorganisms for public health assessment by providing rapid and quantitative results
The Science Behind Free Rebound
No full textThis document examines a history of the the percussion stroke used throughout history leading to Free Rebound. It focuses on how grip, technique, and pedagogy have evolved over time through various pedagogues. The concept and stroke motion in Free Rebound was first advocated by George Lawrence Stone, Billy Gladstone, Fred Hinger, Buster Bailey, Ed Soph, and Joe Morello, it was implemented in playing and teaching by Gary Cook, and furthered by Dean Gronemeier. This discussion aims to support professionals\u27, students\u27, and teachers\u27 interests by discussing the pedagogies of different approaches over time. The health and wellness section helps to discuss how different approaches to grip and stroke motion can have varying effects on the body. The primary focus of this document is to determine how healthy Free Rebound is compared to other strokes. Through testing and comparing Charles Ashworth’s grip (back fulcrum grip) and Free Rebound (front fulcrum grip) in the Sports Injury Research Center at UNLV with the help of the Kinesiology lab and equipment, it is possible to test how each approach effects the exhaustion in muscles. This research illustrates the value of different grips, their pedagogical approaches and how they effect the health and wellness of drumming
The Cycle Paradox: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Excess Credit Accumulation in Public Higher Education
No full textThis dissertation explores the challenges of stagnating college degree completion in the United States, particularly at public institutions. The study focuses on the problem of excess credit accumulation as a barrier to degree completion. This phenomenon is understudied in the higher education literature, limiting empirical support to inform future policy and practice approaches. This study employs a concurrent mixed-methods design to explore the characteristics of students who accumulate excess credits and the circumstances contributing to that accumulation. The study is conducted at an R1 institution designated as an HSI, MSI, and AANAPISI, reflecting the rigor of its coursework and the diversity of its student body. Data are drawn from institutional records retained as part of a policy charging excess credit accumulators a financial penalty for their excessive accumulation. The framework of academic capitalism is used to analyze institutional data, which views students as consumers and prioritizes financial stability. Quantitative findings reveal a racially and economically diverse sample, demographic variation by major, and strong academic performance despite credit excess. Qualitative findings point to challenges with credit applicability, evolving academic pathways, and barriers to progression as key contributors. These findings suggest that vulnerable populations and those in demanding majors have the most difficulty navigating credit accumulation, such as degree applicability and evolving academic pathways. The integrated findings suggest institutional policies and student decisions reinforce one another, contributing to conditions that reinforce excess credit accumulation
A Comparative Analysis of Fife and Flute Pedagogical Methods and Resources for Amateur Musicians
No full textThis document explores the pedagogical literature and tools used by fife and drum instructors during private lessons and ensemble rehearsals. The document will address the general history of the fife and drum and how the instrumental pair has been a leading cultural, historical, and musical signifier across Europe and the United States over the past millennium. It also analyzes the strengths and pitfalls in fife pedagogical literature and highlights supplemental teaching resources from flute pedagogical literature. This research aims to strengthen the current methodological tools for amateur fife learning while providing a dialogue between different music genres and ensemble structures. The document aims to help students and teachers locate, access, and use new teaching resources. Ensemble observations, interviews with master pedagogues, and the author’s teaching experiences as a classically trained flutist served as research data