22232 research outputs found
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Influence of Acute High-Intensity Resistance Exercise on Cognitive Performance and Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation in Recreational Weightlifters
No full textAcute exercise has been shown to be effective in improving post-exercise cognitive performance, including executive function. In addition, changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation have been linked to any such improvements. Since resistance and higher intensity exercise is much less studied, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of high-intensity resistance exercise on cognitive performance and to determine if PFC activation was related to this cognitive performance in recreationally trained weightlifters. Ten (M = 5, F = 5) college aged (22 ± 2 years) recreationally trained weightlifters completed the Stroop task prior to and 15- and 30-min following a single high-intensity resistance exercise session. Left and right PFC oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) changes were recorded during all Stroop assessments (pre-exercise, 15- and 30-min post-exercise) via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Reaction times for congruent and incongruent Stroop tasks were significantly reduced at both post-exercise testing time points but accuracy did not significantly change. Both left and right PFC O2Hb were also not significantly different but there was a trend toward a significant negative relationship between LPFC O2Hb and congruent response times (p = 0.06). The results of this study show improved cognitive performance (via improved reaction times and no change in accuracy) but no significant change in PFC activation. That said, there was a trend toward greater left PFC O2Hb and reduced response times (improved performance). Future research is warranted to explore these cognitive changes following longitudinal exercise interventions in both healthy and clinical populations
Examining Social Capital and First-Generation Student Status: Evidence from a Midwest University
No full textAs demand for college graduates grows (Times Higher Education, 2023) persistence rates for first-generation students continue to lag (Toutkoushain et al., 2018, 2021). Complicating our understanding of this opportunity gap is the diversity of how first-generation student status is defined (Jo Peralta & Klonowski, 2017). We argue that while notable differences exist between first-generation students whose parents have no college experience (FGS-none), and those from families with collegiate backgrounds (continuing-generation), the distinctions between first-generation students with parents who have some college experience (FGS-some), and the other two groups are unclear. As such, this study investigates the implications of varying definitions of first-generation college student status through the lens of student social capital and retention. Using a comprehensive survey and data analysis, the study reveals no significant differences in students’ cumulative social capital. However, examining social capital through principal component analysis revealed disparities in family social capital (FGS-none and FGS-some) and peer social capital (FGS-none). Further, lower levels of cumulative social capital and family social capital were significantly related to lower retention. The findings underscore the importance of academic support tailored to first-generation students, particularly FGS-none, and incorporating strategies within curriculum aimed at bolstering the social capital of first-generation students, especially during their critical freshman year. We argue that while post-secondary institutions should continue to use a broad definition of first-generation student status to catch the most at-risk students, research should continue to collect and explore the nuances between first-generation student populations and the role of social capital in student success
A Historical Review of Course Requirements in Agricultural Mechanics for Agricultural Education, Teacher Education Undergraduates at Nine 1862 Land-Grant Universities
No full textPreparing pre-service students to teach agricultural mechanics is a difficult task due to the career pathway including a great variety of topics (Byrd et al., 2015). This study examined the trend in requirements in 1862 land-grant universities for number of courses, course credit hours, and course topics related to agricultural mechanics, as well as the total credit hours needed for degree completion in agricultural education, teacher education. Overall, the universities examined had lessened the total course credit hours related to agricultural mechanics courses from 8.33 to 11.83 credit hour requirements in 1980, to a range of 6.67 to 8.33 credit hours in 2021. As such, the total credit hours required for teacher education degree completion in agricultural education had decreased from an average of 128.4 total credit hours to 125.0 credit hours over the same time period. Course topics found to be the most common from 1980 to 2021 were Intro to Ag Mechanics, Welding, and Construction/Structures. It is recommended that qualitative interviews be conducted with cognizant university faculty to ascertain the importance of the various course topics and analyze how topics were identified as priorities in their respective programs, including whether the views of industry stakeholders were considered and addressed
Surviving and Thriving on the Gold-Capped Mountain; the Entrepreneurial Sucessess of Chinese Women in Early Nevada
No full textAs a result of shifts in historical methodologies, women’s history began to rise in prominence but only recently have historians shifted their focus to specific marginalized groups. Chinese women in Nevada at the turn of the 20th century are noteworthy due to their entrepreneurial successes in a time of rampant discrimination, yet have not been discussed in the literature as a collective. By analyzing the impacts of anti-Chinese legislation, public commentary in newspapers and political cartoons, and first-hand accounts of Chinese women from the region during the period this project develops an untold narrative. Secondary material provides further claims on the existence and significance of the female Chinese population in early Nevada. This project is based on the works of Sue Fawn Chung about the ethnic group in Nevada and in the West. Results show that the way in which Chinese women in Nevada occupied certain labor niches was due largely in part to the unique backdrop of the state’s policies towards aliens and the nature of Nevada’s economy. While most Chinese women are reduced to their roles as working girls in Nevada mining towns, there is evidence that they were actually successful, hard-working women despite the overwhelming historiography and primary source material that claims the contrary. These findings suggest that by studying the multiple facets of Chinese women\u27s opportunities during this period there is value in identifying the gendered differences experienced by an immigrant group, labor being one of many lenses of which to investigate such important distinctions.https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/durep_podium/1054/thumbnail.jp
Invertebrate Functional Diversity of Fossils From Arrow Canyon, Nevada
No full textPaleontology can be used to study how ecosystems evolve and respond to changes in the environment. Here we examine invertebrate fossils from the Pennsylvanian, a time period that ranged from 323.2 to 298.9 million years ago, which are preserved along the walls of Arrow Canyon (Nevada) in the Bird Spring Formation. We surveyed three sites within the canyon, and used data from the Paleobiology Database to create a list of taxa found on the canyon from this time interval. Although ecosystems have traditionally been studied using the composition of the ecosystem (the number of species), recent work has shown that functional structure may be more important to the health of an ecosystem. Therefore, here we examine functional diversity (the types of functions performed by all of the organisms in an ecosystem). Three functional traits were assigned to each taxon: tiering, feeding, and motility, using the Paleobiology Database and the scientific literature. We examined both how much of the functional space was filled, and how species were distributed within functional space using Functional Entities, unique combinations of functional traits. Brachiopods dominated the fossil samples, as the geologic setting favored the preservation of their shells. Other invertebrate phyla are represented, though their sample sizes are low. Further study on the functional diversity of the Bird Spring Formation may incorporate fossil data from other fossil localities to expand sample sizes at the genus level.https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/durep_podium/1055/thumbnail.jp
Factors Related to Racial Trauma Distress Among BIPOC College Students
No full textRacial trauma distress is when post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms occur due to repeated and cumulative experiences of racism and can negatively impacted Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Consensus in research findings strongly suggest that BIPOC students are more likely to experience racism on university campuses than non-BIPOC students. To mitigate some of these negative outcomes, existing research has shown that psychological safety, resilience, and intraminority solidarity are protective factors for BIPOC students experiencing race-related distress. However, little is known about the frequency of racial trauma distress among BIPOC college students and how these variables may protect against racial trauma distress. Therefore, we examined whether psychological safety, resilience, and intraminority solidarity significantly predicted more or less racial trauma distress among BIPOC college students. Data were collected from 254 BIPOC college students (Mage = 19.45, SD = 3.00) who completed an online survey. A multiple regression model was used to examine whether the predictors significantly predicted racial trauma distress. Results suggest that psychological safety and resilience were significant negative predictors of racial trauma distress. However, intraminority solidarity was a significant positive predictor of racial trauma distress. This research contributes valuable insights into the interaction between psychological safety, resilience, intraminority solidarity, and racial trauma distress and the roles these variables play as potential mitigators against the race-based stress of racial trauma. Understanding the link between these factors and racial trauma distress is crucial for developing effective interventions to address the negative effects of racial trauma distress among BIPOC college students.https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/durep_posters/1228/thumbnail.jp
Detection of Methane Leaks by the Use of Mid-range Infrared Camera
No full textTimely detection of methane leaks from natural gas infrastructure, like pipelines and valves, is essential for mitigating environmental and safety risks. This research focuses on using mid-wave infrared (MwIR) cameras on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to detect leaks. By leveraging machine learning, the study aims to develop an efficient, real-time methane inspection system that operates directly on embedded processors on UAS platforms.
This project employs the FLIR G300a OGI camera for remote gas inspection, utilizing video preprocessing and optical flow to mask gas plumes in footage. The YOLOv8 deep learning model is used to detect gas pixels and segment the plume area, with the analytics deployed onboard an NVIDIA Jetson Nano.
Indoor experiments demonstrated that the FLIR G300a camera can effectively detect low methane flow rates (3-5 SCFH) at a 30 ft distance, highlighting its strong performance under controlled conditions. In outdoor settings, detection proved more challenging due to factors like wind, temperature, and complex backgrounds. However, preprocessing videos and applying optical flow significantly improved gas pixel identification, enhancing labeling and training for the YOLOv8 model, and demonstrating the system’s adaptability to real-world environments.
The developed methodology automates the previously labor-intensive and hazardous task of detecting methane leaks with handheld sensors, which require close proximity to the leak source. This remote, automated approach enhances efficiency, enabling fast response and timely mitigation of environmental, safety, and property risks. Additionally, the technology can be adapted to detect other gasses around chemical and industrial facilities.https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/durep_posters/1239/thumbnail.jp
The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Device-Associated Healthcare-Associated Infections in Nevada
No full textHealthcare-associated infections or hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) have remained prevalent despite the growth of infection control programs in healthcare facilities and are a large cause of morbidity and mortality. Device-associated HAIs (DA-HAIs) make up a large portion of HAIs. The devices include central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), and ventilator-associated events (VAEs). DA-HAIs became a large concern during the COVID-19 pandemic as many healthcare facilities became overwhelmed by the influx of COVID-19 cases, illuminating the importance of studies to examine these changes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate how DA-HAI rates have changed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada and how device utilization has influenced this change. This study utilized a cross-sectional analysis design, including data from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) on CLABSIs, CAUTIs, and VAEs from January 1, 2018, to March 31, 2024, in Nevada. The study has three defined periods: pre-pandemic/baseline (2018-2019), the pandemic period (2020-2022), and post-pandemic (2023-2024). Results indicated that VAEs significantly increased during the pandemic period and have remained high in the post-pandemic period. There was no change in CAUTIs throughout the three periods. A period change was observed in CLABSIs, but only in acute care hospitals. Device utilization was a significant predictor for VAEs and in some healthcare settings for CLABSIs. Differences were also noted in bed size and geographical location in Nevada for some healthcare settings. Understanding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic can help improve and sustain infection control programs to respond to future pandemics
α-QUARTZ Plastic Strength Investigation Via Diffraction Experiments on Novaculite Using a D-Dia and Elastic Plastic Self-Consistent Interpretation
No full textThe plastic response of experimentally deformed quartz provides insight into the strength of ductile shear zones that has implications for tectonic, lithospheric, and ore deposit models. We present a suite of 15 uniaxial deformation experiments on Arkansas novaculite conducted in a DDIA apparatus with in-situ synchrotron x-rays. Experimental temperatures range from 25 C to 1334 C with pressures between 1.39 GPa and 3.1 GPa, and strain rates between 1x10-5 s-1 and 9x10-6 s-1. Macroscopic sample strain ranges from 3% to 24%. d-spacings from the (101), (110), (200), (201), and (112) lattice planes were measured, producing lattice strain up to ~5%. Diffraction data was forward modeled using elastic plastic self-consistent (EPSC) simulations to derive differential stress and the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) of individual slip systems as a function of pressure and temperature. This study investigates the activation of basal (c), positive rhombohedral {r}, negative rhombohedral {z}, prismatic {m}, positive acute rhombohedral {pi}, negative acute rhombohedral {pi’} slip systems and their association with differential strain among quartz lattice planes during deformation prior to steady state flow. Modeled stress strain curves reflect a decrease in critical resolved shear stress with increased temperature and decreased stress. Microstructures observed from electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps of our deformed samples indicate the presence of dauphine twins whose effects may be reflected in the alignment of the positive rhombohedral plane (10-10) in our deformation experiments. Additionally, inelastic behavior at low strain observed in all deformation experiments has been simulated with the use of an isotropic deformation system in the model. The differential stresses derived from EPSC simulation of our D-DIA experiments have been used to compare with deformation data from Griggs type experiments, that correlate well