Digital Commons Network^™

Up A Creek : The Perilous Journey Of Recently Uninsured Low-Income Adults In Oregon, Heidi Allen

Dissertations and Theses

In the United States, having health insurance is considered to be the best guarantee of having access to timely and effective health care services. With millions of uninsured adults in the U.S., many states have moved beyond traditional Medicaid programs and expanded eligibility to low-income adults who are not otherwise eligible for public health insurance. While popular with the public, these programs are vulnerable when states face economic downturns. Even during times of financial stability, Medicaid expansion programs experience significant amounts of program 'churning', and in turn, low-income adults experience health insurance discontinuity. For this reason, it is important to …

"Do I Really Belong Here?" The Effects Of Difference In Paths Through Higher Education On Graduate Student Perception On Legitimacy, Tina Dawn Lillian Burdsall

Dissertations and Theses

Why do some master's level students feel confident in completing their programs and some do not? Why do some feel connected to their department and some do not? Why do some feel legitimate as graduate students and some do not? This research proposes that there may be differences in how master's students understand the graduate student role based on whether they went directly from high-school through their bachelor's to their master's, or if they took time off between their bachelor's and master's program. This thesis used in-depth interviews with twelve second-year master's students at Portland State University to explore these …

An Evaluation Of The Texas Team’S Teen Dating Violence Awareness And Prevention Toolkit, Nöel Bridget Busch-Armendariz, Karen Kalergis, Alison Little, Hyeyoung Woo, Jacqueline Garza, Tiffany Ross, Institute On Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of the evaluation project is to assess the process and the outcomes of implementing an intervention based on the Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Toolkit. For this purpose, the IDVSA research team developed a model for schools to follow based on multiple materials in the Toolkit. The project looked at how effective the intervention was in increasing awareness of dating violence among teens and knowledge of how to respond if they or their peers are in an abusive relationship.

The findings are organized into three sections based on the sources of data. The first section records the …

Image Properties In An Aberration-Corrected Photoemission Electron Microscope, Rolf Könenkamp, T. Jones, J. Elstner, Robert Campbell Word, Gertrude Rempfer, Todd Dixon, Luis Almaraz, Walter P. Skoczylas

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We report recent progress in the construction of a new aberration-corrected photoemission electron microscope. The correcting element in this instrument is a hyperbolic electron mirror which corrects for chromatic and spherical aberration. We present first images obtained with the new instrument and numerical results from trajectory and wave-optical calculations indicating that the resolution can be of the order of 1 nm.

Who Benefits? : A Multilevel Analysis Of The Impact Of Oregon's Volunteer Mentor Program For Postsecondary Access On Scholarship Applicants, Alisha Ann Lund-Chaix

Dissertations and Theses

Despite four decades of national policy interventions, equal access to postsecondary education has not been achieved. Though gains have been made, students of color, low-income students, and first generation students are still excluded from postsecondary participation. Early intervention programs and privately funded scholarships are among the many public and private voluntary responses to this problem.

Oregon's state-supported, school-based, volunteer mentoring program for equalizing postsecondary opportunities grew out of a long-standing partnership between a state administrative agency and statewide community foundation. Key program features reflect its origin: open eligibility for any student who wants to participate and reliance on a primary …

Developing A Sense Of Academic Ownership : A Longitudinal Analysis, Gwen Catherine Marchand

Dissertations and Theses

Student responsibility has emerged as a key developmental task, particularly during the transition to middle school. A developmental and motivational perspective was taken for the present study that emphasized agency, ownership, and engagement as key parts of the development of student responsibility. Self-determination Theory (SDT) was selected as the overarching framework for the present investigation due to the theory's emphasis on autonomy, which refers to the experience of oneself as the authentic origin of one's own actions (Deci & Ryan, 1985). In SDT, the construct of autonomy is used to integrate views of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and to differentiate …

Development Of Clinical Judgment In Nursing Students: A Learning Framework To Use In Designing And Implementing Simulated Learning Experiences, Paula Marie Gubrud-Howe

Dissertations and Theses

There is little doubt that health care has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. Consequently, learning to think like a nurse has become an increasingly complex endeavor. Therefore, professional education must be re-designed to facilitate the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are required of nurses in today's practice environment. High-fidelity simulation provides an education environment for nursing students to develop new professional competencies such as clinical judgment.

The How People Learn (HPL) framework is a comprehensive instructional model that can be used to design clinical learning activities. The HPL framework emerged from the new science of learning …

Modeling Broadband Ocean Acoustic Transmissions With Time-Varying Sea Surfaces, Martin Siderius, Michael B. Porter

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Solutions to ocean acoustic scattering problems are often formulated in the frequency domain, which implies that the surface is "frozen" in time. This may be reasonable for short duration signals but breaks down if the surface changes appreciably over the transmission time. Frequency domain solutions are also impractical for source-receiver ranges and frequency bands typical for applications such as acoustic communications (e.g. hundreds to thousands of meters, 1-50 kHz band). In addition, a driving factor in the performance of certain acoustic systems is the Doppler spread, which is often introduced from sea-surface movement. The time-varying nature of the sea surface …

Electron Crystallography Of Aquaporins, Simeon Andrews, Steve Reichow, Tamir Gonen

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Aquaporins are a family of ubiquitous membrane proteins that form a pore for the permeation of water. Both electron and X-ray crystallography played major roles in determining the atomic structures of a number of aquaporins. This review focuses on electron crystallography, and its contribution to the field of aquaporin biology. We briefly discuss electron crystallography and the two-dimensional crystallization process. We describe features of aquaporins common to both electron and X-ray crystallographic structures; as well as some structural insights unique to electron crystallography, including aquaporin junction formation and lipid-protein interactions.

X Is A Journey: Embodied Simulation In Metaphor Interpretation, L. David Ritchie

Communication Faculty Publications and Presentations

This essay compares simulation-based accounts of metaphor processing recently proposed by Gibbs (2006a) and Ritchie (2006), using examples of metaphors based on the metaphor vehicle "journey" from four different texts. From analysis of these different examples, it is concluded that simulation may come into play at different levels, depending on the metaphor and the context in which it is used. Further, it is suggested that the imaginative simulation of the object or action named by a metaphor vehicle, proposed by Gibbs, incorporates a partial subset of detail-level perceptual simulators. This leads to the proposal that the two models describe cognitive …

Focal Point, Volume 22 Number 02, Portland State University. Regional Research Institute

Research and Training Center - Focal Point

This issue of Focal Point—through a consideration of personal, lived experience as well as practice and research—examines the mutual impact of caregiver and child mental health, and highlights practical strategies to promote positive outcomes for children and caregivers who experience mental health difficulties.

U.S. Medical School Faculty Job Satisfaction, Sarah A. Bunton

Educational Leadership and Policy Faculty Publications and Presentations

Concerns about the vitality of faculty careers at U.S. medical schools have been well documented, as medical school leaders and researchers have raised awareness about overall career satisfaction, faculty stress and burnout, and struggles with recruitment and retention. Previous research has demonstrated an empirical link between job satisfaction and retention as well as job dissatisfaction and intent to leave an organization. This Analysis in Brief examines key areas of medical faculty job satisfaction and dissatisfaction and the disconnect for some faculty members between what they value in the workplace and actual workplace opportunities.

Production, Oxidation, And Emissions Of Methane From Rice Fields In China, M. A. K. Khalil, Martha J. Shearer, R. A. Rasmussen, Chang-Lin Duan, Lixin Ren

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Detailed field studies of methane emissions from rice fields show that when nitrogen fertilizers are used with intermittent irrigation the seasonal average flux is about 3 mg/m²/hr. When continuous flooding and organic material is added to the same fields, the emissions rise to nearly 30 mg/m²/hr. Production rates measured during the two years when both organic material and water were applied to these fields were found to be 60 and 90 mg/m²/hr in consecutive years. The fraction oxidized is calculated to be about 80% one year and 43% the next year. The results suggest that high organic fertilizer increases production, …

Supply Chain Management For Servitized Products: A Multi-Industry Case Study, Mark Johnson, Carlos Mena

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Manufacturers are combining products and services in order to provide greater value to the customer and to facilitate longer more profitable business relationships. Organisations that pursue this route are following a strategy of servitization which requires the effective management of supply chains. A framework was developed from the extant literature that was used as a lens for the analysis of supply chains for servitized products. This research uses case studies to explore the challenges and opportunities that face the supply chain management function within organisations that are pursuing a strategy of servitization. The case studies indicate that servitized supply chains …

Enhancing Portland’S Business Environment: A Public — Private Enterprise, City Club Of Portland (Portland, Or.)

City Club of Portland

No abstract provided.

2008 Commencement Program, Richard Pimentel

Commencement Archives 2000-09

The program for the PSU Commencement ceremony on June 14, 2008.

Richard Pimentel, author, trainer, speaker, and disability rights advocate, delivered the commencement address and was awarded an honorary doctorate by PSU Interim President Michael Reardon. Tamam W. Waritu, Class of 2008, delivered the student address.

Zoonotic Disease Emergence : A Study Of Host-Pathogen-Ecosystem Dynamics, Laurie Jeanne Dizney

Dissertations and Theses

A growing body of work demonstrates that loss of biodiversity negatively impacts ecosystem functions. One function, or service, that biodiverse ecosystems provide is suppression of zoonotic diseases, which are defined as diseases carried by wildlife hosts that can spill over into human populations. Ebola, SARS, West Nile virus, Hantavirus, Avian Influenza and Lyme disease are just a few of the recently emerging zoonotic diseases. Disease suppression has been shown for Lyme disease by the dilution effect, whereby increasing species diversity decreases disease prevalence in the host populations. But does a dilution effect apply to other disease systems? To test this …

Intimate Partner Violence, Supervisor Support And Work Outcomes For Low-Wage Workers, Nanette Lucia Yragui

Dissertations and Theses

The workplace is a setting where women in abusive relationships can potentially access information and support to resolve the violence in their lives. This study addresses a critical need for data-based knowledge about how supervisors can effectively support employees experiencing intimate partner violence. The dissertation study examines supervisor support congruency (i.e., the match between support wanted and received) and work outcomes for Latina and non-Latina, abused women. Specifically, I examine which supervisor support measures best predict work outcomes for abused, low-wage, employees. In addition, I evaluate the criterion validity and reliability of a behavioral measure of wanted and received supervisor …

Development And Investigation Of Unique Organic Materials To Detect Disease Biomarkers, George Kiplimo Samoei

Dissertations and Theses

Chemomechanical polymer gels with the capability of recognizing specific biological molecules are promising materials for many biomedical applications. Glucose-selective hydrogels have potential utility in the continuous monitoring of glucose and glucose-triggered insulin delivery for the management of diabetes. Herein, the development and study of the first material which detects glucose via significant volume changes in the challenging matrix human blood plasma is described. The material was created via the modification of PMMA with supramolecular binding sites. The polymer exhibits excellent selectivity and reversibility including continuous expansion-contraction cycles.

Retention Of Special Education Professionals : Perceptions Of Principal Support, Laurreta Janette Manning

Dissertations and Theses

The field of special education is faced with the challenge of a national shortage of special education professionals, including teachers, speech-language pathologists and psychologists. This has devastating effects on students with disabilities, as they do not have the benefit of well-qualified, experienced professionals due to a continual turnover of staff. This research focused on the retention of special education professionals, as approximately 50% leave before their fifth year, and this trend is expected to continue. Beginning professionals are most vulnerable, particularly in the first three years of teaching. Research has examined factors that impact a special education professionals' job satisfaction, …

Multi-Level Environmental Governance : A Comparative Case Study Of Five Large Scale Natural Resource Management Programs, Shpresa Halimi

Dissertations and Theses

Globalization is occurring at an unprecedented pace through the end of the twentieth century and into the new millennium. In such a world, governance is increasingly shared among governments, civil society organizations and businesses. Globalization has placed new demands on environmental management across national borders. Hence, changes in the environmental governance frameworks are required to create the enabling conditions for the effective management of the natural resources and the environment.

This study seeks to develop an integrated "Multi-level Environmental Governance" (MLEG) framework and to explore the relationship between the core characteristics of the framework and the achievements of large scale …

Faculty Senate Monthly Packet June 2008, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

The June 2008 Monthly packet includes the June agenda and appendices and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held May 2008

A Grounded Agent Model Of The Consumer Technology Adoption Process, Brent Alan Zenobia

Dissertations and Theses

Adoption is one of the most important concepts in the diffusion of innovations (DOI) literature, yet certain aspects of it are poorly understood. In particular, causal adoption process theory (CAPT) has been stagnant for decades and seldom subjected to critical scrutiny. In consequence, DOI research is unstable – different studies identify different factors as important.

This dissertation introduces grounded agent modeling, a hybrid methodology drawing on existing software engineering and social science techniques to construct a step-by-step explanation of how consumers make technology adoption decisions. Inductive case studies, grounded theory, and sequence analysis are used to investigate transportation mode adoption …

Osbhe June 8: Fall 2008 Tuition, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

A 2008 news release explaining that the State Board of Higher Education (the “Board”) met to consider the fall 2008 tuition increases, items related to the planning and construction of the University of Oregon arena project, and proposed programs to be considered by the 2009 Legislature in the OUS budget, among other items discussed by the Board.

Sustainability From The Perspectives Of Indigenous Leaders In The Bioregion Defined By The Pacific Salmon Runs Of North America, David Edward Hall

Dissertations and Theses

Extensive research suggests that the collective behavior of humanity is on an unsustainable path. As the evidence mounts and more people awaken to this reality, increased attention is being dedicated to the pursuit of answers for a just and sustainable future. This dissertation grew from the premise that effectively moving towards sustainability requires change at all levels of the dominant Western culture, including deeply held worldviews. The worldviews of many indigenous cultures offer alternative values and beliefs that can contribute to addressing the root causes of problems related to sustainability. In the bioregion defined by the Pacific Salmon runs of …

Initiative For Bicycle And Pedestrian Innovation, Jennifer Dill, Lynn Weigand

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation aims to advance the field of bicycle and pedestrian transportation through four primary mechanisms: (1) developing and pursuing a collaborative research agenda that more directly informs practice and and involves students through dissertation research and fellowships; (2) translating relevant research into a format and language that is more useful to practitioners, and making that research available through technology transfer; (3) developing more holistic approaches to the education and training of planners and engineers; and (4) supporting community-based outreach and education, to promote awareness of bicycle and pedestrian issues statewide and nationally. This proposal …

The Lms Mirror: School As We Know It Versus School As We Need It And The Triumph Of The Custodial Class, Gary R. Brown, Nils Peterson

Office of Academic Innovation Publications

In the context of the future of learning management systems, this paper examines the concept and perception of a learning environment from the classroom to the internet and their relationship to perceptions of teaching and learning. Examples and research, including an example of an activist Web 2.0 prosocial effort, are used to demonstrate the distinction between the current state of teaching and learning, and an emerging model and vision. The implications for necessary future directions to mediate the contrast are discussed.

Physicians Providing Alternative Medicine: Boundary Crossing And The Emergence Of Integrative Medicine, Richard Scott Lockwood

Dissertations and Theses

Integrative medicine (IM) has organized as a new area of specialization in mainstream healthcare. The development of IM is widely attributed to popular demand for the range of therapies known collectively as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). During the 1990's the rate of acceptance of CAM accelerated among consumers, professions, financing and education. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) measured CAM utilization and professional service provision during the years 1996 and 1998, but never since. These surveys were unique because they specifically inquired as to whether CAM was provided by a physician, among other types of professionals. This dissertation defines …

The Washington State Patrol, Accountability-Driven Leadership, And The Organizational Factors That Propelled Their Success: An Organizational Analysis, Timothy Carl Winchell

Dissertations and Theses

In January 2002, Washington State Patrol (WSP) Chief Ronal Serpas, Ph.D., implemented his Accountability Driven Leadership (ADL) philosophy throughout the entire statewide public safety agency. The initiative was intended to re-focus personnel on agency strategic goals, objectives, and performance. ADL stressed Computer Statistic (CompStat) management tenants, decentralized decision-making, and efficiency and effectiveness performance measures.

Most CompStat research has been anecdotal in nature, meaning little empirical analysis has scrutinized the implementation of these initiatives in policing. Additionally, the principal researcher could not locate any research that examined these changes in a statewide law enforcement agency. Therefore, this case study contributes to …

"Sustainable Development": Critical Concepts In Geography, Tyler Vick

Geography Masters Research Papers

This paper reviews significant geographic contributions to academic literature in the arenas of conservation, environmental thought, and "sustainable development", in order to understand why geographers have not been more central contributors to the sustainable development movement. A review of geographic literature reveals no lack of understanding on the "sustainable development" concept. However, the disciplines' contributions are lacking in numbers relative to published articles and in developing research and practical methods for directly benefiting the "sustainable development" movement. In fact, only a handful of geographers have made multiple literary contributions on the topic of "sustainable development."

The discipline of geography is …