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Efficacy of Dorsal Application of KT for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Esport Gamers: A Randomized Clinical Trial
No full textThis doctoral study investigated the impact of the dorsal application of kinesiotape on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms and performance among Esport gamers. The study was conducted in controlled environments at the UNLV Esports Lounge, Black Fire Innovation, and the Musculoskeletal Lab using a randomized two-group pretest-posttest design. To maintain ecological validity, participants were permitted to use personally owned gaming peripherals (e.g., computer mouse), and all received brief instruction on proper body mechanics to promote consistency during testing. Participants (n = 11) were systematically assigned by order of registration to either an intervention group receiving dorsal application of kinesiotape on the dominant wrist or to a control group receiving kinesiotape on the spine of the scapula. Participants were recruited from both the UNLV gaming community and the broader Las Vegas gaming community.Participants were seen over a four-day period for the intervention, which included performance testing using Kovaak’s Aim Trainer during Sessions 1 and 4, conducted both with and without kinesiotape applied. Kovaak’s provided objective performance metrics accuracy, reaction time, and speed across tasks such as tracking, flicking, and strafing. On Sessions 2 and 3, participants returned for kinesiotape reapplication and completed a series of Qualtrics surveys, including a demographic questionnaire, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity Scale (BCTQ-SSS), and a KT Feedback Form. While the primary focus was on objective performance and symptom severity data, the subjective responses offered additional context regarding participants\u27 comfort and perceived effects of the kinesiotape. This study contributes to the growing body of research on non-invasive interventions for managing repetitive strain symptoms in gaming populations
Elevating Education: Leveling Up Individual Learning Plans
No full textThis three-article dissertation investigated the effectiveness, implementation quality, and automation of Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) in promoting college and career readiness. Article 1 analyzed High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 data and found that ILPs did not significantly guide course alignment. Article 2 examined ILP implementation across Nevada high schools, revealing inconsistent quality, limited standardization, and few culturally responsive practices. These findings informed the creation of a new high-quality ILP framework. Article 3 employed a convergent parallel mixed methods design to assess an automated ILP prototype based on this framework. Participants in the automated group reported significantly higher scores in engagement, user experience, and cultural relevance. Thematic and sentiment analyses supported these results, with participants expressing greater confidence, clarity, and motivation. This dissertation expanded the ILP literature by identifying key gaps, creating a new framework, and introducing automation as a scalable, equitable solution for improving implementation
An Edge Computing Device Optimized and Transfer Learning Enhanced Deep Learning Model for Detecting Wildfire Flame and Smoke
No full textThe integration of autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with edge computing technology and deep learning (DL)-based object detection offers a groundbreaking solution for real-time wildfire detection, enabling rapid data processing directly on devices and minimizing response delays in critical scenarios. However, although showing early promise, performance is often constrained by limited training data and edge computing devices that lack graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration. This thesis seeks to address these limitations in two stages.First, this work explores the transformative potential of Transfer Learning (TL) to enhance wildfire object detection model accuracy while also investigating TL’s impact, for DL-based object detection models, on edge computing performance metrics including inference speed, power consumption, and energy efficiency. Towards this end, we introduce the Aerial Fire and Smoke Essential (AFSE) dataset as a target dataset while utilizing the Flame and Smoke Detection Dataset (FASDD) and the general Microsoft Common Objects in Context (COCO) dataset as source datasets. By leveraging the AFSE, FASDD, COCO, and D-FIRE datasets, we also developed and tested a two-stage cascaded TL approach. The application of TL in a single stage significantly enhanced the detection accuracy of the You Only Look Once version 5 nano (YOLOv5n) model, achieving up to 79.2% mean Average Precision ([email protected]), while also reducing training time and increasing model generalizability across the AFSE dataset. Notably, cascaded TL showed no further improvement and TL alone did not enhance edge computing performance metrics. Secondly, this research develops a novel one-stage object detection algorithm based on the YOLOv5n architecture, optimized specifically for central processing unit (CPU)-based edge computing devices. YOLOv5n was selected for modification after demonstrating its superiority in edge computing device applications resulting from its speed and accuracy. Without hardware acceleration, an unmodified YOLOv5n model is shown to be able to inference images at nearly two-times the speed of YOLO11n, the latest in the YOLO family of object detectors. Architecture modifications include the use of MobileNetV3-Small as a backbone, Ghost Convolution modules, half the number of output channels in the neck, and the use of 3x3 kernels in the first convolution of all Bottleneck modules. After training, PyTorch weights are exported to two deployment optimized frameworks, Open Neural Network Exchange (ONNX) and Open Visual Inference and Neural Network Optimization (OpenVINO), to accelerate CPU-based inference. Compared to the original YOLOv5n, the modified model converted to OpenVINO demonstrates a 423% increase in inference speed - up to 31.9 frames per second (FPS) - along with an 11.4% reduction in power consumption on a CPU-based edge computing device. The experimental results confirm TL\u27s role in augmenting the accuracy of early-wildfire object detectors while also illustrating that the optimized architecture developed can significantly improve detection speed, power consumption, and overall energy efficiency for CPU-based edge computing devices
Cone Beam CT Assessment of The Zygomatico-Maxillary Buttress for Bone Thickness and Clinical Implications for Miniscrew Insertion
No full textBackground: Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) have changed the way many orthodontists practice orthodontics. TADs are mini-screw temporary implants made of titanium or stainless steel that are placed in the patient\u27s bone in different locations to aid in complex biomechanical movements. This complete anchorage aids in distalization, intrusion, protraction, etc. with less reliance on patience compliance. While TADs have made many movements easier, there are limitations such as choice of where to place it, skill at placing them and patient individual physiology and anatomy that can limit the use of TADs.Objectives: Infrazygomatic crest (IZC) TADs are particularly useful for distalization and intrusion of the posterior maxillary dentition but often have limitations with root morphology in patients. The objective of this study is to analyze a new location, the zygomatico-maxillary buttress, for TAD placement to aid in these movements. This location would avoid the roots of the maxillary dentition, allowing for easier placement of the TAD and movement of the dentition. Methods: A total of 67 CBCT images were anonymized and analyzed to measure bone depth at 12 different sites per subject, assessing both the right and left sides. The cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) of the upper first molar was selected as the reference point due to its anatomical relationship with the zygomatico-maxillary buttress and its clinical relevance. Measurements were taken at the mesial, middle, and distal regions of the upper first molars. From each site, distances of 1, 3, 5, and 7 mm were marked perpendicularly from the CEJ towards the buccal. A vertical line was then extended from these points until it contacted the bone, at which the total bone depth was recorded. Results: The depth of the bone varied widely across patients ranging from 1.3 mm to 21.9 mm with an overall average of 4.19 mm. The difference is attributed to patients\u27 individual anatomy and not any external factors. The mesial of the upper first molar had the highest average of 4.36 mm and the distal had the lowest average of 4.06. The averages varied more when distance from the CEJ was factored in, with the site 7 mm from the mesial CEJ having an average of 5.28 mm and the measurement 1 mm from the distal CEJ not having any measurable bone. Conclusion: Careful analysis of a CBCT radiograph is recommended prior to placing a TAD in the zygomatico-maxillary buttress area as patient anatomy seems to vary substantially. The highest probability of having adequate bone depth is 5-7 mm away from the mesial aspect of the upper first molar
Cross-Correlation Studies of the Cosmological 21 cm Signal And High-Redshift Galaxy Distributions
No full textThe Epoch of Reionization (EoR) marks a critical phase in cosmic history, during which time the first stars and galaxies ionized the surrounding neutral hydrogen gas. A powerful way to probe this period is by cross-correlating the 21 cm signal from neutral hydrogen with high-redshift galaxy distributions. In this study, we analyze the 21 cm-galaxy cross-power spectrum using simulated sky maps and explore its redshift evolution, revealing a transition from positive correlation at early times (high redshift) to anti-correlation at later stages of reionization (low redshift). Our results highlight the sensitivity of the cross-power spectrum to the evolving ionized structure of the universe. We compute the auto-angular power spectra C` of the 21 cm brightness temperature, and galaxy distributions, as well as their cross-power spectrum, across multiple redshifts. The cross-power spectrum transitions from positive at higher redshifts (z \u3e 9.5), where neutral hydrogen closely traces the large-scale structure, to negative at lower redshifts (7.5 \u3c z \u3c 8.5), where ionized bubbles surround galaxies and suppress the 21 cm signal. These results demonstrate that 21 cm-galaxy cross-correlations are a powerful tool for understanding reionization and large-scale structure formation. Future observational efforts, including measurements from the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA) and galaxy surveys from NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman), will enable direct comparisons with these theoretical predictions, improving constraints on the timing and topology of reionization
UNLV Department of Physical Therapy and the Fine Arts Clinic for Health and Injury Prevention
No full textAt the collegiate of performing arts, those who participate in classes and performances will often be at risk for musculoskeletal injury due to repetition and specific patterns of their movements. The establishment of a pro-bono physical therapy clinic for students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate-level fine arts programs may improve healthcare access for this often underserved community. The goals of this service learning project were to provide injury-prevention screenings to dancers and administer specialized physical therapy (PT) services in the form of evaluations and treatments to all students in the UNLV (University of Las Vegas, Nevada) College of Fine Arts (CFA) school, under the direct supervision of three UNLV PT faculty therapists. This project also allowed the UNLV PT students within the project to gain hands-on PT skills in a specialized outpatient setting while completing didactic courses in their second year. To prepare for their time in the CFA PT clinic, students participated in shadowing hours in the clinic, completed an online course for specialized treatment of dancers, and helped administer dance screenings at the annual Healthy Performers Northern Nevada workshop. A total of 29 students were evaluated and treated during the 2023-2024 school year, with the majority of students in the music, dance, and theater majors. One dance screen for a patient was administered during the school year. Five exit surveys were completed by patients by the end of their treatment plans, and 15 were lost to follow-up. The PT students each completed four reflections over their time working in the clinic, and the consensus was that they all benefited from this additional time to practice their skills in the clinic under the professors’ supervision
Undergraduate Student Experiences of Flow in Culturally Relevant and Contextual Digital Math Games
No full textStudents in co-requisite mathematics classes represent a diverse group of learners, with one thing in common: their previous math performance. This research investigates how playing culturally responsive educational games is associated with students\u27 learning and experience of flow. Quantitative analyses revealed no significant differences in flow scores across demographic groups. However, students with stronger STEM identities reported experiencing higher levels of flow, on average. Math self-efficacy was not significantly associated with flow experiences. ANOVA results indicated that flow was not significantly related to final course grades (F = 0.465, p = 0.707, η² = 0.008), suggesting that students’ self-reported flow experiences did not directly influence their academic performance. However, the number of game activities completed (dosage) had a statistically significant effect on course grades (F = 4.721, p = 0.031, ηp2 = 0.027), with students in the highest quartiles of assignment completion achieving higher scores than those in the lower quartiles. Qualitative findings reveal that students described their flow experiences through dimensions of difficulty, attention and engagement, goal attainment, emotional states, interest in content, and career relevance. These findings suggest that while flow may enhance engagement, course performance is more strongly linked to how students’ amount of engagement in the supplemental game activities. The study underscores the importance of designing learning experiences that support engagement in co-requisite STEM education
Morphological and Transcriptional Responses of Mammalian Cells to Glucose Stress
No full textOrganismal cells encounter varying conditions, including daily and potentially seasonal fluctuations in available glucose. While some species tightly regulate circulating glucose levels, others tolerate extreme fluctuations, such as frugivorous bats experiencing post-prandial hyperglycemia and hibernating mammals maintaining stable glucose through torpor and hibernation. To investigate how these species-specific strategies influence cellular responses to glucose perturbation, primary dermal fibroblasts from nine mammals – humans, rats, Egyptian fruit bats, brown bear, 13-lined ground squirrel, little brown bat, gelada, honey badger, and Bactrian camel – were exposed to hypoglycemic (2.5mM), baseline (8mM), or hyperglycemic (30mM) treatment. Cell morphology was evaluated using Cell Painting, a high-content imaging approach that labeled the nucleus, actin cytoskeleton, and ER. Morphological features, including size, shape, intensity, texture, and nuclear-to-actin ratio, were extracted using CellProfiler. Distinct species-specific remodeling patterns emerged. Glucose-sensitive species, including humans and rats, showed coordinated reductions in nuclear and cytoskeletal size under high-glucose stress, while glucose-tolerant species such as fruit bats exhibited minimal morphological disruption. To complement this phenotypic data, transcriptome analysis was performed using RNA sequencing across all glucose treatments in humans, rats, Egyptian fruit bats, little brown bats, and 13-lined ground squirrels. Differential gene expression analysis revealed conserved and species-specific patterns. Glucose-sensitive species, such as humans and rats, exhibited broad activation of inflammatory, oxidative stress, and metabolic regulatory pathways under glucose stress, whereas glucose-tolerant species like fruit bats exhibited extensive but controlled transcriptional changes consistent with metabolic flexibility. Together, these results provide a comparative framework for understanding how mammals manage glucose-induced cellular stress. The integration of morphological and transcriptomic data highlights both convergent and divergent strategies of cellular glucose regulation, offering insights into the evolutionary plasticity of metabolic homeostasis and its relevance to metabolic disorders such as diabetes
An Examination of The Purity Culture Beliefs Scale and The Interaction of Religiosity, Purity Culture Beliefs, And Pornography Use in A Census-Matched United States Sample
No full textThe impacts of purity culture have been documented in the prevalence of abstinence-only sex education, perception of personal value tied to virginity, and shame and guilt related to sexual behavior. Similarly, models of moral incongruence often examine religiosity as a contributor of distress related to sexual behavior and pornography use, likely tapping into the influence of purity culture without directly naming its presence. This distinction is crucial due to the variety of religious beliefs and practices, some including purity culture and those without sexually restrictive beliefs and practices. Despite this, standardized measures for researching purity culture are limited. Ortiz (2018) created the Purity Culture Beliefs Scale (PCBS) to assess purity culture beliefs and further this area of research; however, this scale has received limited psychometric examination and mainstream utilization thus far. In my dissertation project, I performed both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with the PCBS. This allowed me to assess the factor structure of the PCBS in a United States census-matched sample, providing replication and validation of the measure in diverse samples. Additionally, I assessed group differences (i.e., gender, sexual orientation, race) in PCBS scores and conducted path analyses to examine associations among religiosity, purity culture, and pornography use. By examining both problematic pornography use (PPU) and perceived PPU in path analyses with purity culture beliefs as a potential mediating or moderating component, I assessed the factors contributing to moral incongruence (i.e., discriminating the distinct influences of religiosity and purity culture). Factor analyses showed improvement in item loading and cumulative variance in a 9-item, 2 factor version of the PCBS. Path analysis results indicated that purity culture beliefs consistently had a stronger relationship to the pornography outcomes compared to religiosity, supporting this more precise method of assessing moral incongruence through purity culture rather than religiosity. Research findings will help inform researchers and clinicians of the impact of purity culture beliefs on PPU as well as the suitability of the PCBS for assessing purity culture beliefs in a representative sample of United States adults
Mechanisms Of Gold Enrichment in Seafloor Massive Sulfide Deposits: A Study on the HIGASHI-AOGASHIMA Hydrothermal Field
No full textThe study of Seafloor Massive Sulfides (SMS) deposit formation is vital for assessing both the economic potential and environmental risks posed by future marine mining projects. Metal-rich SMS deposits form in hydrothermal vent systems within tectonically active regions, such as back-arc basins, where faults enhance crustal permeability, enabling fluid migration driven by magmatic heat sources at depth in the crust. Currently our understanding of SMS formation processes is based on bulk-rock geochemical and isotopic data, lacking the necessary spatial and temporal resolution to understand ore forming processes. As a result, critical gaps remain in understanding the exact mechanisms responsible for metal enrichment in these systems, particularly the role of magmatic volatile influx as a source of sulfur and metals such as Au in some hydrothermal systems. Recent research conducted by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) revealed unusually high gold concentrations, reaching up to 275 ppm, in samples from the Higashi-Aogashima Knoll Caldera (HAKC), located on the Izu-Bonin arc, Japan. Three active vent sites have been identified within the caldera, namely the Central Cone, East, and Southeast sites, located at a water depth of ~730 meters below sea level, venting fluid ranging in temperature from 155 to 284°C. This study will investigate the underlying processes driving Au enrichment at HAKC, and SMS deposits more widely. Specifically, this study utilizes in situ sulfur isotope (δ34S) and trace metal geochemistry, to test the hypothesis that magmatic volatile influx is the dominant processes driving Au enrichment at HAKC. The mineralogy of samples varied systematically between the three vent sites and is unusual in a global context due to the occurrence of orpiment (As₂S₃) and realgar (As₂S2), which are exceptionally rare on the seafloor. Chimneys from the East site contain high amounts of barite, colloform and framboidal pyrite and dendritic mineral phases, indicative of high seawater influx. At the Southeast site, chalcopyrite is commonly observed by overprinting galena and sphalerite, indicative of active zone refining processes, which are well developed in samples from the Central Cone site. This transition in mineral assemblage and textures represents a progression in the maturity of chimneys across the three vent sites. Sulfur isotope (δ34S) analysis of sulfide minerals from HAKC, regardless of site and mineral analyzed average 2.7±2.7‰ (1σ, n=178), showing that sulfur is sourced predominately from the leaching of igneous host rocks and thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) of seawater. The large range in δ34S values -4.4 to 10.1‰ is attributed to microbial sulfate reduction and variable amounts of TSR, although minor magmatic volatile influx cannot be ruled out. Thus, the absence of δ34S values \u3c 0‰ does not support the hypothesis that magmatic volatile influx is responsible for Au enrichment at HAKC. The deportment of Au between vent sites and different mineral phases shows that Au occurs as both native grains associated with galena and chalcopyrite, and in the matrix of sulfide minerals. Chalcopyrite from the Southeast site and pyrite from the Central Cone host the highest concentrations of Au, whereas the East site contains comparatively lower concentrations, highlighting the potential for large amounts of Au to be contained within sulfide mineral grains. The results demonstrate that Au enrichment at HAKC is not primarily driven by magmatic volatile influx, as initially hypothesized. Instead, spatial variations in Au concentrations, sulfur isotopic signatures and mineral textures across the vent sites suggest that localized fluid processes, such as transient boiling and seawater mixing, play a more dominant role. This study exemplifies the complexity of Au enrichment in arc-hosted hydrothermal systems and the need to integrate various in-situ geochemical approaches to constrain the temporal and spatial evolution of metal transport and precipitation