Digital Commons Network^™

A Magical Symbiosis: The Advent Of Witchcraft In The Age Of Social Technology, James Dryden

University Honors Theses

This paper investigates the relationship between social media and witchcraft practitioners in online communities. After providing a landscape of how other researchers have studied similar phenomenon, interviews with anonymous witches who utilize online platforms such as TikTok and Instagram were conducted by the author. Using these testimonies in conjunction with the research of others, the author identifies trends and similar stories between American witches regarding Wicca, the commodification of the craft, and how witchcraft practice continues in the modern day.

Holistic Methodologies For Fusing The Material And The Ideological: Tracing The Sociotechnical Imaginaries That Enable The World’S Fastest Supercomputer, Sarah Read, Jordan Firth

English Faculty Publications and Presentations

When the Aurora supercomputer launches at Argonne National Laboratory it will operate at the exascale and be one of the fastest supercomputers in the world. We have been invited by Argonne to do field work to understand both the day-to-day processes that maintain supercomputing (e.g. user documentation, government reporting, user testing) and the sociotechnical national imaginaries [11], –in particular the increasingly tense global competition between the US and China in the supercomputing race–that shaped the development of Aurora. This article proposes our work-in-progress methodological approach that accounts for both higher-level imaginaries and the everyday practices of supercomputing. We also describe …

The Sphere Of Exposure: Centering User Experience In Community Science Air Monitoring, Marisa Westbrook, Valentina Serrano-Salomón, Jay Pecenka, Sumit Sankhyan, Aniya K. Hollo, Shelly L. Miller, Esther Sullivan

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Community science has increased in popularity in communities where residents hope to investigate the relationship between environmental issues and personal health. This study partnered with neighborhoods in the most polluted residential zip code in the US to conduct community science air quality monitoring. We conducted 60 semi-structured interviews after two monitoring deployments to understand participants’ subjective experiences of pollution exposure, their engagement with low-cost air quality monitors, and their data interpretation. We utilize the environmental health concept ‘exposure experience’ to analyze how participants use personal monitors, understand their data, and reinterpret their pollution exposure as a result. We further explore …

“What Keeps Me In School”: Oregon Bipoc Learners Voice Support That Makes Higher Education Possible, Roberta Hunte, Miranda Mosier-Puentes, Gita Mehrotra, Eva Skuratowicz

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

A growing number of college students are nontraditional learners (age 21–65) who are people of color. These students face unique challenges in a higher education system increasingly shaped by neoliberalism and the ongoing context of institutionalized racism. In Oregon, policymakers have established ambitious goals to address racial disparities in educational attainment. In this study, focus groups and interviews were conducted with 111 Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) adult learners in Oregon to better understand their perspectives and experiences in regard to educational and career pathways. Participants included currently enrolled students, adults who had enrolled and left, and adults …

Far-Right Monologues And Extreme Identity, Benjamin Alexander Thigpen

Dissertations and Theses

My thesis is focused on the American far-right, by way of two sperate case studies, one centered on a contemporary movement (the manosphere) and one that has fallen from prominence (racist skinheads). Grounded in primary source analysis, my thesis builds off of the work of social movement theorists such as Sidney Tarrow, scholars of American politics like Richard Hofstadter, and emergent theories of social identity as laid out by Judith Butler and others. Through my analysis, I develop two theoretical arguments: first, that there are two distinct categories amongst far-right narratives (which I term offensive and defensive); and second, that …

The Water-Climate Nexus: Intersections Across Sectors, Thushara Gunda, Alida A. Cantor, Emily Grubert, Angela R. Harris, Yolanda J. Mcdonald

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Water security and climate change are important priorities for communities and regions worldwide. The intersections between water and climate change extend across many environmental and human activities. This Primer is intended as an introduction, grounded in examples, for students and others considering the interactions between climate, water, and society. In this Primer, we summarize key intersections between water and climate across four sectors: environment; drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene; food and agriculture; and energy. We begin with an overview of the fundamental water dynamics within each of these four sectors, and then discuss how climate change is impacting water and …

Impact Of Sinus Surgery In People With Cystic Fibrosis And Chronic Rhinosinusitis In The Era Of Highly Effective Modulator Therapy: Protocol For A Prospective Observational Study, Christine M. Liu, Jakob L. Fischer, Jeremiah A. Alt, Todd E. Bodner, Naweed I. Chowdhury, Anne E. Getz, Peter H. Hwang, Adam J. Kimple, Timothy L. Smith, Multiple Additional Authors

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction Cystic fibrosis (CF) is commonly complicated by chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Despite highly effective management options, CRS in people with CF (PwCF+CRS) may be refractory to medical therapy, eventually requiring endoscopic sinus surgery. The impact of sinus surgery on pulmonary, quality of life (QOL), and other outcomes in PwCF+CRS in the expanding era of highly effective modulator therapy has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to determine if endoscopic sinus surgery can offer superior outcomes for PwCF+CRS when compared to continued medical treatment of CRS. Methods and analysis This multi-institutional, observational, prospective cohort study will enroll 150 adults with …

Social Ecological Predictors And Correlates Of Latinos' Ipv Behaviors: A Systematic Review And Critique Of The Research Literature., Adrian Luis Manriquez, Eric S. Mankowski

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The current paper utilizes an ecological level of analysis framework to review and critique the literature surrounding predictors, correlates, and antecedents of Latinos' intimate partner violence (IPV) behaviors. More specifically, the ecological levels of analysis framework was employed to demonstrate how Latino males' IPV perpetration is being understood and studied. A total of n = 34 peer-reviewed articles were reviewed and critiqued. Findings indicated that most IPV research is being conducted at and comprehended from the individual (n = 33; 97%) and microsystem/small group (n = 24; 71%) levels of analysis, while linkages to organizational, locality, and institutional levels of …

Fostering Resilience: Community Radio And Disaster Communication In Odisha, India, Manas Kumar Kanjilal, Kanchan K. Malik, Priya Kapoor

International & Global Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Local voices carry tremendous weight during natural disasters, yet the possibilities for employing participatory communicative practices for disaster management in India have not been fully explored. Effective community-centred disaster communication garners participation in disaster management processes that reduce vulnerabilities. This paper examines how various community-based organisations used community radio to enhance community engagement and the effectiveness of the disaster management processes in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. The research relies upon case studies of disaster communication practices of two community radio stations during the ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ Yaas, which made landfall in Odisha. It describes the conceptual shift …

Expanding The Scope: Multimodal Dimensions In Aphasia Discourse Analysis—Preliminary Findings, Manaswita Dutta, Bijoyaa Mohapatra

Speech and Hearing Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background:

Aphasia, resulting from acquired brain injury, disrupts language processing and usage, significantly impacting individuals’ social communication and life participation. Given the limitations of traditional assessments in capturing the nuanced challenges faced by individuals with aphasia, this study seeks to explore the potential benefits of integrating multimodal communication elements into discourse analysis to better capture narrative proficiency in this population.ObjectiveThis study examined how incorporating multimodal communication elements (e.g., physical gestures, writing, drawing) into discourse analysis may affect the narrative outcomes of persons with aphasia compared to those observed using methods that exclude multimodal considerations.

Methods:

Participants included individuals with chronic …

Reporting Gunshots: Prevalence, Correlates, And Obstacles To Calling The Police, Kris Henning, Joshua Carmony, Somalia Johnson Calloway, Christian Peterson

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Accurately documenting where and when firearms are discharged is a critical first step in gun violence prevention. Many cities rely on police calls for service as their primary source for this information. Recent studies find, however, that citizens underreport gunshots. This has led some communities to invest in gunshot detection technology (GDT) as an alternative data source. GDT remains an expensive and often controversial solution with limited evidence for long-term benefits. This underscores the need for additional research on third-party reporting of gunshots. The current study, conducted in Portland Oregon, surveyed 1,240 residents in 23 neighborhoods with above-average firearm discharges. …

Exploring The Relationship Between Covid-19 Transmission And Population Mobility Over Time, Tanmoy Bhowmik, Naveen Eluru

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study explores the dynamic relationship between COVID-19 transmission and transportation mobility, with an emphasis on understanding the time-varying bidirectional interplay across the different phases of the pandemic. To gain insight into this relationship, we analyzed county-level data on transmission and mobility patterns from the United States over a 74-week period using a comprehensive list of factors including: temporal factors, socio-demographics, health indicators, health care infrastructure attributes, and spatial factors. For our analysis, we proposed a simultaneous econometric model system that explicitly accounts for the bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 transmission and mobility patterns while also accounting for the influence of …

Flexible Load Conformance: A Work-In-Progress White Paper, Dana Paresa, Robert B. Bass

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Utilities have used residential loads for providing grid services to utility customers for decades, particularly for demand response. However, the number of customers participating in such programs remains low. New Flexible Load Management strategies for providing grid services have the potential to accelerate customer participation. Efforts to improve customer participation and experience will result in increased load balancing capacity of demand response, which will benefit both customers and electric utilities. This white paper investigates whether current smart grid devices (specifically water heaters) can provide needed services while meeting ANSI/CTA-2045 standard requirements.

Minimal Separating Sets In Surfaces, Christopher Nelson Aagaard

Dissertations and Theses

Given a connected topolgical space X, we say that L ⊆ X is a minimal separating set if removing L from X gives a disconnected surface, butremoving any proper subset of L leaves the surface connected. We classify which embeddings of topological graphs are minimal separating in an orientable surface X with genus g, and construct a computer program to compute the number of such embeddings, and the number of topological graphs which admit such an embedding for g ≤ 5.

Problem-Based Learning In Human Growth & Development Counselor Education, Javier F. Casado Pérez, Elliot Witherspoon

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

As a core curricular standard that applies to all Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP, 2015) accredited programs, human growth and development can present unique challenges for the teaching professional. In this article, we present an in-class activity grounded in problem-based learning that uniquely lends itself to the task of supporting medium-to-large classrooms in learning about human growth and development.

Racial Attitudes And Perceptions Of Government Response During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Implications For Public Health Strategies., Man Hung, Jeremy D. Franklin, William A. Smith, Carlos J. Crespo, Evelyn U. Ezikwelu, Jerry Bounsanga, Martin S. Lipsky

Institute on Aging Publications

This study explored whether opinions about the government's role in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic vary based on demographic characteristics and racial beliefs. We hypothesized that opinions about the United States (U.S.) government's response to COVID-19 would differ based on an individual's characteristics such as age, race, and racial beliefs.

Post-Wildfire Water Quality Dynamics: A Multiscale Examination And Predictive Modeling Of Stream Temperature And Turbidity In Western U.S. Watersheds, Junjie Chen

Dissertations and Theses

Wildfires, exacerbated by climate change and human activities, pose significant threats to water-related ecosystem services in forested watersheds. This dissertation investigates the multifaceted impacts of wildfires on stream temperature and turbidity, two critical water quality parameters essential for maintaining aquatic ecosystem health and human water uses. By integrating a comprehensive literature review, empirical data analysis, and advanced machine learning techniques, this research provides a nuanced understanding of how wildfires affect hydrological processes across various temporal and spatial scales.

The findings reveal significant regional variability and the complex interplay between climatic, geographic, and anthropogenic factors. For instance, the literature review highlights …

Eviction In Oregon's Subsidized Affordable Housing, Yi Wang, Lisa K. Bates, Azad Amir-Ghassemi, Minji Cho, Marisa Zapata, Jacen Greene, Colleen Carroll, Devin Macarthur

Center for Urban Studies Publications and Reports

Despite Oregon's expanded investments in affordable housing development and eviction prevention, over 5,400 eviction cases were filed in the state’s subsidized housing from January 2019 to December 2023. This report maps out the landscape of subsidized housing eviction in Oregon and brings attention to the high share of eviction judgments in subsidized eviction cases, the disproportionate rate of eviction filings from housing-authority-contracted management companies and nonprofit housing providers, and the great disparities in legal representation between landlords and tenants.

Introduction To The Virtual Special Issue: Mathematics That Underpins Social Issues, Eva Thanheiser, Ami Mamolo

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This Virtual Special Issue on Mathematics in Society: Exploring the Mathematics that Underpins Social Issues features 13 articles which expand our understanding of how people build, retain, communicate, apply, and comprehend mathematical ideas as they relate to social and societal issues. The focus is on education research that explores the ways in which mathematics and a mathematical worldview can influence choices, on educational, personal and societal levels. We take a broad view and raise questions about what it means to be mathematical in society, and we consider the multifaceted ways in which abilities to derive and interpret information presented mathematically …

How Can Dei Training Change The Culture Of An Organization To Achieve Belonging And Retain Diverse Employees?, Kaisa S. Holt

University Honors Theses

Studies show the need for innovation and higher productivity yields can be best achieved through workforce heterogeneity. Creating effective DEI training frameworks is crucial for belonging, sustainable social well-being and enacting real change. This is key to proactively shifting our current system from one that responds to the need for DEI on a surface level to something that is regenerative. The aim of this review is to evaluate characteristics and enhancements added to evidence-based DEI training between 2020 and 2024. Studies were identified using the Portland State advanced database of academic journals on the DEI training and impacts of the …

The Delicate Situation Of Childhood Vaccination: On The Dispreferredness Of Soliciting Parents' Intent To Vaccinate, Robert Prettner, Hedwig Te Molder, Jeffrey D. Robinson

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the Netherlands, parents of newborns typically participate in two-, four-, and eight-week medical consultations to monitor their children’s development and discuss vaccinations, which will not be administered before eight weeks. During these visits, healthcare professionals routinely ask parents if they intend to vaccinate their children (i.e. to participate in the National Immunization Program). Using Conversation Analysis, we examine 62 videotaped consultations and present two lines of evidence to argue that the sequence initiated by professionals wherein they solicit parents’ intent to vaccinate is dispreferred. First, this action is routinely deferred by preliminary sequences. Second, when professionals eventually initiate this …

Parent Attitudes Towards Predictive Testing For Autism In The First Year Of Life, Aurora M. Washington, Amanda H. Mercer, Catherine A. Burrows, Stephen R. Dager, Jed T. Elison, Annette M. Estes, Rebecca Grzadzinski, Chimei Lee, Joseph Piven, John R. Pruett, Multiple Additional Authors

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Abstract Background Emerging biomarker technologies (e.g., MRI, EEG, digital phenotyping, eye-tracking) have potential to move the identification of autism into the first year of life. We investigated the perspectives of parents about the anticipated utility and impact of predicting later autism diagnosis from a biomarker-based test in infancy. Methods Parents of infants were interviewed to ascertain receptiveness and perspectives on early (6-12 months) prediction of autism using emerging biomarker technologies. One group had experience parenting an older autistic child (n=30), and the other had no prior autism parenting experience (n=25). Parent responses were analyzed using inductive qualitative coding methods. Results …

Extended Time, Elevated Expectations: The Unappreciated Downsides Of Pausing The Tenure Clock, Maria A. Holland, Katharina Maisel, Carolyn B. Ibberson, Laura K. Wiley, David C. Burnett, Emily M. Mace, Mary Williard Elting

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In 1971, Stanford became the first university to introduce tenure clock extensions in academia for new mothers. The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) began recommending such policies a few years later, and in 2001, modified their recommendation to include primary or coequal caregivers, following either the birth or adoption of a child (1). By 2004, 43% of 255 surveyed institutions had formal clock-stop policies...

The Experience Of Homelessness And Its Effects On Gut Eubiosis, Kamerin Villagomez

University Honors Theses

Microorganisms which populate the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) have a profound effect on overall human health. The relationship between host health and eubiosis, or balance, of the GIT microbiome is symbiotic and can have reciprocal relationships with quality of sleep, quality of diet, stress and mental health, and the experience of pain. These specific aspects of health are unique in populations experiencing homelessness due to the multi-dimensional and complex nature of their lived experience. Very few studies explore populations experiencing homelessness, with even fewer investigating the intersection between this population and the human GIT microbiome. It is important to do …

Supportive-Leadership Training To Improve Social Connection: A Cluster-Randomized Trial Demonstrating Efficacy In A High-Risk Occupational Context, Cynthia Mohr, Leslie Hammer, Jennifer Dimoff, Shalene Allen, James Lee, Sarah Arpin, Sheila Mccabe, Krista Brockwood, Todd Bodner, Luke Mahoney, Multiple Additional Authors

Psychology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The high, and rate of loneliness is a threat to public health (Office of the Surgeon General, 2023), with negative mental and physical health consequences (e.g., Holt-Lunstad, 2021). Given that loneliness is a risk factor for poor mental health, efforts to address loneliness are urgently needed. Workplaces can facilitate an employee's social connection through supervisor support training, which can help mitigate loneliness. Among occupational groups, the military is at higher risk for mental health disorders, suicide, and loneliness (Fikretoglu et al., 2022; Naifeh et al., 2019). This study evaluated the efficacy of an evidence-based supportive-leadership training intervention targeting active-duty U.S. …

Lsp Needs Analysis In The Context Of International Minor League Baseball, Julia Moore

University Honors Theses

Examining the language and cultural needs of international minor league baseball players through the lens of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) this study utilizes applied linguistics and sports sociology and aims to inform player development strategies to enhance on- and off-field communication. Survey data was gathered on language use preferences, focusing on players' attitudes and behaviors in professional settings. Ethical considerations included surveys in English and Spanish and voluntary participation, with data collected at the Oakland Athletics Complex in Mesa, Arizona, from 18 out of 20 players.

Findings reveal that players recognize the importance of English proficiency for effective gameplay …

Ronald E. Mcnair Scholars Program Profiles And Abstracts 2024, Mcnair Scholars Program

McNair Symposium

This is the complete event program and provides presentation abstracts and biographies of McNair scholars and their mentors.

A Pwm Control Method For Reducing Electromagnetic Noise At The Generation Source In Power Electronic Converters, Abhijeet Prem

Dissertations and Theses

Advancements in power semiconductor devices are enabling the design of better electrical power conversion systems. Wide Bandgap (WBG) switching devices using materials like Silicon Carbide and Gallium Nitride can operate at higher temperatures, voltages, and frequencies with faster turn-on/off periods, improving converter performance over silicon devices. However, WBG technologies are still new, and the rapid switching transitions of these devices lead to issues such as voltage overshoots, ringing, and electromagnetic interference, which need to be addressed for widespread adoption. This work introduces a new control method for reshaping the switching voltages, which overcomes the disadvantages of fast transition time without …

Binary Gendered Language: A Qualitative Study Of Psu Students, Dakota Abercrombie

University Honors Theses

This study explores experiences of gendered language in use in academia among two marginalized groups: women and those identifying beyond the gender binary. Guided by the theory of linguistic relativity this study attempts to understand specific ways in which gendered language, including generic language may show up and contrasted within these groups. While this data is not generalizable, the findings indicate that both women and nonbinary students experience binary pronoun use in written formats such as syllabi. However, nonbinary students describe more negative feelings associated with this experience. We also noted participants' gender identities intersecting with other identities, leading to …

A Native American Perspective On Navigating The Academic World With Resilience And Honoring The Wisdom Of Native Elders, Shani Renee Johnson

Dissertations and Theses

The graduation percentage among Native American students has consistently remained at a discouraging 50 %, both in the past and at present. This study employed a narrative inquiry approach to investigate the low graduation rates among Native American students, from the perspective of a Native American educator and mother. This study examined the historical trauma and colonization experienced by Native Americans and how it has affected Native American families and communities, resulting in low rates of graduation among Native students. In addition, this study examined factors contributing to resilience by acknowledging Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Indigenous Ways of Knowing …