OAsis: UNLV's Repository for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity
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Exploring the Occupation of Parenting with a Cognitive Disability
No full textObjective: To investigate how parents with cognitive disabilities perform child-rearing tasks and barriers associated with their disability, to determine their needs and self-efficacy to improve the role of occupational therapy in supporting child-rearing for parents with cognitive disability.Design: Qualitative Case-study, Phenomenology Setting: Gigi\u27s Playhouse Participant(s): Inclusion criteria: parents or expecting parents, individuals with a cognitive disability resulting from an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, English speaking, 18+, and autonomy to consent participation. Exclusion criteria: non-English speaking, individuals without a cognitive disability resulting from an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, and under 18. Measure(s): Semi-Structured Interview and Tool for Measuring Parental Self-efficacy. Results: The TOPSE assessment indicated a minimal difference in self-efficacy before and after receiving education. Theme one: Parenting needs, including broad parenting needs and unique parenting needs. Theme Two: Influences on need, including personal contexts and external reinforcements. Conclusion: Overall, parent A experience underscores the importance of dynamic and personalized support systems in parenting
Effects of Media Captured Vaporized E-Liquid on Oral Epithelial Cells
No full textBackground: In 2024, the Center of Disease Control (CDC) reported that 1.63 million middle and high school students (5.9%) were using e-cigarettes, with 87.6% opting for flavored varieties. Flavored electronic liquids (e-liquids), particularly those with fruity or sweet additives, release harmful substances when heated. Studies have shown that the vapor contains heavy metals, toxic chemicals, various carbonyls and other byproducts that pose significant health risks. These byproducts have been linked to oral cancer, periodontal disease, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease, yet their specific effects on the oral epithelium remain poorly understood. While the dental community strongly discourages smoking due to its association with inflammation and increased risk of periodontal disease, the precise impact of vaping on the cells and tissues of the oral cavity is not well defined.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of flavored electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) vapor on oral epithelial cells. A custom-designed vaping chamber was developed to expose cell growth media to vape byproducts. Vaporized components of mint and fruit-flavored e-liquids were analyzed in collaboration with the Desert Research Institute (DRI). The infused media was then used to assess its impact on the vitality and proliferation of OKF-4 cells, a human-derived oral epithelial cell line. Additionally, we examined the expression of a cellular marker associated with apoptosis and DNA damage to explore the potential mechanisms of toxicity. Methods: Oral keratinocyte cells, OKF-4s, were cultured in triplicate using media infused with vaporized e-liquid byproducts. Two flavored e-liquids, Frozen Fruit Monster Strawberry Kiwi and Mints Wintergreen, were tested at two different concentration levels: 1x, 5x ‘puffs.’ Since the vape device had an automatic shut-off at 8 seconds, 1 ‘puff’ was equivalent to 8 seconds of vapor exposure. Cell counts were recorded using a Countess™ II automated cell counter, and cell viability was assessed via trypan blue dye exclusion. Statistical analyses were conducted with a repeated measures ANOVA for vitality and population doubling over time. To further investigate cellular responses, the expression of DNA damage by analyzing a γH2AX marker was evaluated in cells exposed to vaporized byproducts. Additionally, carbonyl composition of unvaporized and vaporized e-liquids was conducted in collaboration with DRI. Results: Cells cultured in media not exposed to vaporized e-liquid exhibited minimal changes in cell count. In contrast, media infused with 5x vaporized mint and fruit e-liquids demonstrated a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect, with significantly reduced cell counts compared to the 1x exposure. By day 7, cells exposed to 5x vaporized media showed a marked decline in vitality, with very few viable cells remaining. Notably, mint-flavored vape byproducts exhibited greater cytotoxic effects with a more rapid onset than compared to the fruit-flavored byproducts. Conclusion: Exposure to vaporized e-liquid byproducts had a dose-dependent negative impact on OKF-4 cell viability and proliferation. Mint-flavored vape byproducts demonstrated a more pronounced toxic effect compared to fruit-flavored vape byproducts. These findings highlight the potential harmful effects of vaping on oral epithelial health and provide a foundation for further research into the mechanisms of vaping-induced cytotoxicity in the oral cavity
Acquired Brain Injury Education: Utilizing Unfolding Case Studies to Improve Critical Thinking Skills in Occupational Therapy Students
No full textAcquired brain injuries (ABI), including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and anoxia, affect millions worldwide, and often result in long-term impairments in daily functioning. Despite the need for specialized, ongoing care, many individuals with ABI lack access to adequate long-term rehabilitation services, and families report substantial caregiver burden due to limited resources and poor care coordination. Occupational therapy plays a critical role in meeting the needs of this population; however, many entry-level practitioners feel underprepared to manage the complex challenges associated with ABI, largely due to limited training and exposure. This capstone project aimed to address this educational gap by implementing an unfolding case study to enhance the critical thinking skills of occupational therapy doctoral students. The project included an advanced clinical practice focused on ABI followed by the development, implementation, and analysis of an unfolding case study. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was utilized to assess changes in students’ self-perceived critical thinking skills across three domains: analysis, explanation, and interpretation. Descriptive statistics indicated improvements across all three domains following the intervention. The greatest gains were observed in the domain of explanation, likely due to the case study’s emphasis on synthesizing clinical information and articulating clinical decisions in dynamic, real-world scenarios. These findings support the effectiveness of unfolding case study methodologies in fostering critical thinking skills related to ABI, an essential component of clinical reasoning
Feasibility and Acceptability of Tap Dance as a Therapeutic Intervention for Adults with Lower Limb Amputation: A Pilot Study
No full textObjectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of an 8-week adapted tap dance program as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with lower limb amputation (LLA).
Methods
Three participants with LLA (two with unilateral transfemoral amputation and one with bilateral transtibial amputations) attended weekly 1-hour tap dance classes, with movements adapted for their needs and mobility aids and dance barres available as needed. The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) and participant feedback assessed acceptability. Functional mobility, balance and quality of life were measured using the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Four Square Step Test (FSST), and Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scale (TAPES).
Results
All participants (P1-3) completed the classes with adaptations. PACES scores indicated moderate to high enjoyment, and participants reported increased confidence in daily activities. However, two experienced physical discomfort and one found weekly attendance challenging. Functional outcomes varied: P1 improved on the TUG and FSST but had reduced ABC and QOL scores. P2 improved on the BBS but showed no change in QOL, while P3 reported fewer activity limitations and improved QOL after the intervention.
Conclusion
Adapted tap dance may be a feasible and acceptable activity for individuals with LLA, offering potential improvements in balance, mobility, and QOL. Some caution is needed regarding physical discomfort, and larger studies are required to determine efficacy. This program could fill a gap in exercise options outside of traditional physical therapy for people with LLA
Qualitative Analysis of Clinical and Community Perinatal Providers’ Perceived Barriers to Equitable Care for Food Insecurity in Underserved Communities in Southern Nevada
No full textFood insecurity is prevalent among underserved communities and contributes to increasing maternal-child health disparities. The perinatal period from pregnancy through one year postpartum provides a critical window of opportunity to identify and address food insecurity (FI). However, barriers such as inadequate staffing, lack of institutional and community resources have prevented perinatal providers from offering equitable care for FI, defined as providing screening, referrals, and follow-up services. The Social Ecological Model (SEM) is a framework that observes concepts at multiple levels, including (i) individual, (ii) interpersonal, (iii) institutional, (iv) community, and (v) policy. The objective of this study is to understand barriers perceived by perinatal providers to implement screening, referring, and following up strategies for food-insecure pregnant people and children living in underserved areas through the lens of the SEM. This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to interview 15 perinatal providers working in underserved communities in Southern Nevada. Qualitative thematic analysis guided by the SEM identified key themes. This study identified barriers at the individual provider level such as a lack of perinatal provider knowledge and education on FI; at the interpersonal level such as a patient’s hesitancy to reveal sensitive information to providers; at the institutional level such as a lack of standard procedures to conduct screening, referring, and following up; and at the community and policy levels such as organizational capacity and historical distrust of healthcare systems as obstacles to offering equitable care for FI in perinatal settings. This study documented critical factors to improve implementation of screening, referring, and following up strategies, such as incorporating FI trainings for providers and increasing connections between clinical and community perinatal providers. Utilizing the created recommendations may promote equitable care for FI within clinical and community perinatal settings
Rebuilding Father-Child Bonds: Group Therapeutic Writing for Fathers Transitioning From Incarceration
No full textThis project was a group therapeutic writing (TW) workshop that was an addition to the existing program at Hope for Prisoners (HFP) to facilitate self-awareness of father-children relationship for fathers who are previously incarcerated. This doctoral capstone project assessed the impact of a group therapeutic writing workshop led by the occupational therapist capstone student on emotional awareness, self-reflection, and communication skills among previously incarcerated fathers. The program aimed at helping fathers who were incarcerated in rebuilding relationships with their children by enhancing confidence, self-awareness, and emotional expression. The four-week therapeutic writing program provided the emotional and relational needs of participants by promoting both emotional growth and supportive peer interactions through shared writing exercises. Participant feedback revealed that structured writing exercises allowed fathers to explore their emotions, reflect on their experiences, and express thoughts they may have struggled to communicate in the past. Challenges such as scheduling conflicts, parole restrictions, and emotional barriers impacted participation levels. Additionally, the age of their children played a role in relationship rebuilding, with older children demonstrating greater hesitation in reconnecting. This project highlighted the potential of TW as an intervention for formerly incarcerated fathers navigating the complexities of reentry and fatherhood. Future research should explore longer and more-in depth writing programs to further assess their effectiveness in strengthening father-child relationships and supporting successful reintegration
Investigating Decision Factors for Modularization and Standardization Decision on Early Project Phase: Qualitative Comparative Analysis
No full textModularization involves shifting site-based work to offsite locations to enhance overall productivity, reduce costs, shorten schedules, and improve project competitiveness. By developing and utilizing consistent designs, facility standardization further optimizes project schedules, costs, and value. When combined, they create a leveraging opportunity, as seen in the shipbuilding and manufacturing industries. While both strategies offer significant advantages, capital projects struggle to have a well-informed modularization and standardization decision during the early project phase (i.e., Opportunity Framing). This often results in improper implementation and lower modularization and standardization levels. The main cause for this is the industry’s limited understanding of early-phase high-level decision factors to justify and implement modularization and standardization decisions. To address this, this research investigates modularization and standardization decision factors along with their combinatorial and interactive impacts on modularization and standardization decisions using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). The study conducts a detailed analysis of the decision factors using descriptive analysis and compares the results with the QCA findings to have a comprehensive understanding of decision factors as well as respective modularization and standardization decisions. To do this, the research has adopted the twelve modularization decision factors identified by Construction Industry Institute (CII) Research Team 396 and ten standardization factors adopted by CII RT UMM-01, analyzing real-world project data to assess their implications on decisions. The findings will assist industry practitioners in making informed decisions on modularization and standardization, strengthening justification, and improving modularization and standardization implementation. Subsequently, the results and the findings of the research will enhance the existing body of knowledge on early modularization and standardization decisions. The research aids in providing a better understanding of decision factors and their combinatorial and interactive effects on modularization and standardization decisions and provides recommendations for informed decisions in capital projects
The Compositional and Dynamical Properties of Exoplanets
No full textThe solid surface density profile of protoplanetary discs, and the composition of these solids, can be formed through sequential condensation models of dust precipitating from the cooling gas of the solar nebula. I continue developing a code that reproduces the chemical compositions of most chondrites as well as the bulk compositions of the rocky planets using our partial condensation model with an evolving disc. I extend this validated code to exoplanet systems with different initial elemental ratios, like the carbon-to-oxygen ratio and estimated stellar abundances over the age of the universe. I have improved this dust condensation code to include isotopic fractionation of elements as certain isotopes preferentially condense over others. Isotopes provide additional constraints to improve our model’s reproduction of the rocky solar system bodies and, thus, enable more informed models for extrasolar systems. Additionally, I continue my dynamical work on the sporadic rotation of tidally locked planets that arises from the interaction between tidal locking and orbital perturbations due to mean motion resonance. Previously, I examined sporadic rotation in the system TRAPPIST-1. I find a new exoplanet system that likely exhibits sporadic rotation around a high-mass M-dwarf star, K2-3. Additionally, I find no sporadic rotation in the other systems I examine and validate my model against the Jovian moon system. I show the impact of these complex spin states on planet climates in high-mass M-dwarf star systems and compare them to low-mass M-dwarf models
Prompting Creativity: Using Generative AI in the Humanities Classroom
No full textIn this session, we share a collaborative instructional project that empowered students in an Honors world literature course to use generative AI for creative scriptwriting. Students selected historical literary figures and, using prompt engineering techniques, crafted dialogues between either an author they read over the semester or a character from readings like Gregor Samsa in Kafka’s Metamorphosis, and a contemporary individual—exploring timeless themes through a modern lens.
We will demonstrate how we introduced prompt writing as a skill, provided students with guiding templates, and facilitated their engagement with ethical AI use and critical thinking. Participants will view sample student-generated content and explore how generative tools like ChatGPT can be thoughtfully integrated into humanities curriculum without diminishing scholarly rigor.
This session blends practical guidance with reflective discussion. Attendees will leave with example prompts, classroom integration strategies, and ideas for assessment. We aim to inspire educators to adopt generative AI not as a novelty, but as a tool intentionally used for deepening engagement, fostering creativity, and reimagining how students interact with texts
Build your own GPT: Tailoring AI to Your Academic Needs
No full textGiven the diversity of academic disciplines, a one-size-fits-all approach to AI falls short; that\u27s why personalized GenAI is essential to delivering relevant and meaningful support tailored to your needs. In this hands-on session, you will learn to build and personalize your Custom GPTs as your intelligent personal assistant designed to align and support your unique goals. No coding experience is required. Regardless of your level of knowledge of GenAI or your discipline, this session can help you harness your GenAI skills, boost productivity, and adapt AI tools to meet your unique needs