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Immigrant Population in the Mountain West, 2023
No full textThis fact sheet presents data on the economic, workforce, and educational contributions of immigrants in the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The American Immigration Council (AIC) 2025 report, “Map the Impact,” provides information on state-level measures of immigrant population, labor force participation, and economic contributions
Ex Vivo and Simulation Comparison of Leakage in End-to-End Versus End-to-Side Anastomosed Porcine Large Intestine
No full textAnastomotic leaks after colorectal resection are serious surgical complications. We have compared the integrity of two common colorectal anastomosis techniques, end-to-side (ES) and end-to-end (EE), to control specimens using a novel experimental setup that mimics anastomotic air leak tests, which are typically performed during surgeries. Freshly harvested porcine colonic sections from 23 F1 cross-species pigs were used. Pressure measurements and video imaging were used to monitor the ex vivo experiments on EE, ES, and Control specimens. Using EE (n = 16), ES (n = 12), and Control (n = 22) specimens, leak pressure was 282.6 ± 3.0 mm Hg for EE, 282.8 ± 2.6 mm Hg for ES, and 294.4 ± 12.1 for the Control. Time to leakage was 106.3 ± 28.1 s for EE, 263.9 ± 2127.0 s for ES, and 194.5 ± 90.2 s for the Control. We found that, while EE and ES have nearly identical leak pressures, ES was superior in terms of time to leakage and tissue expansion, which may explain why ES anastomoses have a lower clinical anastomotic leak rate. Two dependent variables representing stress and strain of colonic tissues were introduced. These variables showed ES was comparable to the Control. The experiments were simulated successfully using the finite element method (FEM). This research provides a reproducible ex vivo system with a corresponding FEM system to study the differences between anastomosis techniques and may help design anastomoses with lower leak rates and improve patient outcomes in colorectal surgeries
Trends and Financial Burden of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in the United States: A Comprehensive Analysis of United States Hospitalizations
No full textBackground: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are associated with a substantial economic burden to the healthcare system despite their relatively low incidence and prevalence compared to other more common malignancies. This study aimed to evaluate trends in GIST-related hospitalizations, inpatient mortality, and the financial burden of GISTs in the United States. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2020 was used to identify adult hospitalizations (age \u3e 18 years) with a primary diagnosis of GIST. A multivariate logistic regression along with Chi-square and t-tests was performed using SAS 9.4 software to analyze inpatient GIST-associated mortality, inflation-adjusted total hospital charge (THC), and length of stay (LOS) during the study period. Results: The study analyzed 48,690 hospitalizations (49.2% female, mean age 64.2 years, 38.2% elective admissions) with a primary diagnosis of GIST between 2016 and 2020. Annual GIST-related hospitalizations increased from 2,645 in 2016 to 11,565 in 2020 (P = 0.1208). The most common tumor location was stomach (48.5%), followed by small intestine (18.7%), large intestine (3.6%), and rectum (1.6%). There was a non-significant reduction in inpatient mortality from 4.16% in 2016 to 3.29% in 2020 (P = 0.807). Overall, 36.2% of patients had THC between 20,000 (36.5% in 2016 vs. 34.7% in 2020, P = 0.0001), and 9.8% of patients had a THC \u3e $40,000 (8.3% in 2016 vs. 12.6% in 2020, P = 0.0001). Furthermore, 61.5% of patients had LOS of fewer than 5 days (59.16% in 2016 vs. 61.39% by 2020, P = 0.0001), and 38.5% had LOS of 5 days or more (40.84% in 2016 vs. 38.61% in 2020, P = 0.0001). The proportion of GISTs treated with endoscopic resection has remained stable with 13.02% in 2016 and 13.01% in 2020 (P = 0.08). Additionally, the proportion of surgical excisions decreased from 26.8% in 2016 to 21.4% in 2020 with a statistically significant trend (P = 0.004). Conclusions: GIST-related inpatient mortality between 2016 and 2020 has remained stable, and endoscopic and surgical interventions have become more common for the management of GISTs. This has been accompanied by a significant rise in overall inflation-adjusted hospitalization costs in the study period. These findings highlight the need for continued optimization of care and resource allocation for GIST management
Shallow Groundwater Extraction Strategies in the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada
No full textThe Las Vegas Valley faces severe water scarcity due to Nevada’s limited Colorado River allocation and an arid climate. Population growth and prolonged drought have intensified these constraints, necessitating alternative resource strategies. This project evaluated a strategy to make use of brackish, shallow groundwater (from the top 30 feet below ground surface) located in the central and east-central parts of the valley. Its objective was to extract lower quality shallow groundwater for use as an alternative to fresh water currently being used for some applications that require little to no treatment. Dust suppression is among the most promising of such potential uses. Studies indicate that brackish water can be more effective at dust suppression than water alone. This project evaluated three shallow groundwater extraction strategies: A) a mobile pumping approach; B) a fixed facility at Horseman’s Park’s 12-inch well; and C) a sucker-rod pumping approach which was eventually determined impractical compared to the other options. Hydraulic limitations and market availability informed pump selection, with submersible pumps identified as the most practical solution. The mobile approach designed a simple pump and hose assembly for a water truck driver to run overnight, filling their tank while off-duty. The Horseman’s Park used a similar submersible pump and included onsite storage. Cost estimates were prepared for mobile extraction from 2-inch and 4-inch diameter wells, and the 12-inch Horseman’s Park plan. They calculated initial capital costs of 2,350, and $101,000, respectively. The 2-inch wells approach had significant long-term risk and high expected operating costs that would likely offset its low initial expense. This was because the market research identified only one pump that could fit in such a narrow well casing, and it had projected a life expectancy of about three months. The Horseman’s Park fixed extraction plan can use similar submersible pumps but requires significant capital investment to construct permanent onsite storage and delivery infrastructure. The mobile extraction approach was ultimately recommended for most wells because of its flexibility which could best support construction activities that have shifting project locations. Fixed facilities are appropriate for sites where consistent, long-term demand is expected, as is the case with Horseman’s Park. A phased implementation is recommended. The mobile approach could be started as pilot program with a small number of trucks. Well testing is also recommended to obtain more water quality. Both testing and pilot program operators should document achievable flow rates, recovery speeds, and water quality findings to build a database of well characteristics that can be mapped and referenced for full-scale deployment
Assessing the Professional Development Needs of Traditionally and Alternatively Certified Career and Technical Education Teachers in Virginia
No full textThe Virginia Department of Education allows for various paths to teacher licensure. Teachers may graduate from an approved teacher preparation program or obtain a teaching license through alternative pathways. This study identified the professional development needs of traditionally and alternatively certified CTE teachers in Virginia by administering a statewide survey. The participants were divided into three groups: alternatively certified CTE teachers (Group 1), traditionally certified teachers in a non-CTE area and then received a CTE endorsement (Group 2), and traditionally certified teachers in CTE (Group 3). By comparing how teachers from each of these certification pathways reported their level of preparation for different aspects of teaching to the perceived importance of those aspects, conclusions can be drawn regarding the aspects of teaching that need more attention to help better prepare traditionally and alternatively certified teachers. The results demonstrate that while there are slight differences in how traditional and alternatively certified teachers report the data, there are many similarities in how these different groups of teachers feel about their teacher training. All teachers in all three groups ranked managing stress as the highest need. Other highly ranked items were balancing work and personal life, managing time, and motivating students. The Virginia Department of Education has identified Career and Technical Education (CTE) as a critical needs area for more qualified teachers due to a teacher shortage, as such it is important to understand how teachers feel about their preparation within these different licensure pathways, and resources to help teachers be better prepared can be improved
Esports: Women, Harassment, and Paving the Way for Equity
No full textIt all began with a patent. In 1947, Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device, the first video game, featured oscilloscope graphics similar to World War II radar screens. As targets appeared on the screen, players maneuvered light beans in an attempt to destroy them. Or... maybe it’s not. Whether or not Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device is actually the first video game to be invented depends on your school of thought. Technically, Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device is mechanical and does not rely on programming. It does have the distinction of being the first electronic game to be issued a patent and did use a monitor. However, none of the game graphics are computer generated and no memory devices are required. Did the esports origin story spring from this humble beginning? The debate continues..
The Fentanyl Crisis: A UNLV Community Response
No full textBrookings Mountain West hosted a live panel discussion with UNLV faculty experts and Brookings Senior Fellow, Vanda Felbab-Brown on the critical topic of the fentanyl crisis in America. The devastating impacts of synthetic opioids in the United States cannot be overstated: more than 100,000 Americans are dying of drug overdoses annually, with fentanyl as a major contributor. Health experts have called the fentanyl crisis in North America the most lethal drug epidemic in history.
In this live panel, faculty discuss their work to combat fentanyl abuse in our region, and provide policymakers, law enforcement leadership, and community nonprofits an inside glimpse at the obstacles to prevention, education, and treatment faced by those working on the epidemic’s front lines. Their collective work was recently featured on a popular Brookings podcast series hosted by Felbab-Brown, The Killing Drugs: Synthetic Opioids around the World. The podcast series takes a comprehensive look at the fentanyl crisis nationwide and around the world, and features 2 episodes with UNLV faculty from the UNLV Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine and Department of Criminal Justice at UNLV
Oh, the Lessons You\u27ll Teach! Bringing Dr. Seuss Into Graduate Field Work
No full textTeaching Practice and the Need It Addresses Incorporated classic Dr. Seuss children\u27s literature into graduate Educational Policy and Leadership field experience coursework. Used one story per class session to guide discussions and activities. Connected themes from four Dr. Seuss books to students’ real-world work on school improvement initiatives. Literature supported students’ year-long capstone projects, helping themhttps://oasis.library.unlv.edu/btp_expo/1216/thumbnail.jp
Researcher Risks: A Typology for Qualitative Risks to Researchers in Communication Studies
No full textDiscussions of risk in qualitative research tend to focus on risks to research participants. However, qualitative researchers also face risks—or uncertainties with potential for harm—because they serve as the research instrument. Communication researchers are uniquely suited to problematize the meaning of risk and extend theory about what risk is by noting that risk is subjective and communicatively constructed, both in qualitative methods and in research contexts. We create a typology of five risk contexts that pose a danger to researchers: crisis, disruptive, vulnerable, emotionally risky, and ethically fraught contexts. For each context, we define the risk, propose representative examples, and critically discuss proposed coping strategies. By doing so, we make three key contributions to scholarship on qualitative methods in communication research: (1) we explore how communication concepts of temporality, care, and resilience can be extended via discussion of researcher risks; (2) we show that researcher risk is ongoing, fluid, and constantly evolving; and (3) we argue that risk management strategies must include collective support that embraces the extended temporality of researcher risk
Breaking the Odds: A Gendered Analysis of Women and Gambling Behaviors
No full textGambling is increasingly recognized as a complex public health issue with wide-ranging implications for individuals, families, and communities. While traditionally male-dominated, recent shifts reveal a growing participation among women, facilitated by gender-specific gambling products, targeted marketing, and evolving societal norms. This paper critically examines the prevalence, motivations, and harms associated with gambling among women, drawing on theoretical perspectives such as social capital theory, cultural geography, and gender role theory. By synthesizing existing literature, this review highlights distinct gendered patterns in gambling behaviors, including the use of gambling as a coping mechanism for stress, isolation, and caregiving burdens, and the role of gendered spaces and marketing strategies in shaping women’s engagement. While much of the literature focuses on risks and harms, gaps remain in understanding protective factors, intersectional influences, and the implications of emerging gambling formats such as cryptocurrency betting and gamified platforms. The article provides a foundation for advancing public health strategies and fostering a more comprehensive understanding of women’s gambling behaviors and their broader societal implications