Digital Commons Network^™

Developing Students' Information And Research Skills Via Blackboard, Jacqui Weetman Dacosta, Becky Jones

Communications in Information Literacy

This paper summarizes work undertaken at De Montfort University (Leicester, UK) to develop students' information and research skills using the Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment. It outlines how a traditionally delivered and assessed program was reviewed and revised in order to produce a blended learning experience for students. The librarians involved undertook this project with students from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences during March/April 2005, teaching two groups in parallel--one group using Blackboard and another using the traditional teaching method. Both groups were given a diagnostic evaluation to gauge their confidence levels with both information skills and using Blackboard, …

An Interview With Patricia Senn Breivik, Stewart Brower, Christopher V. Hollister

Communications in Information Literacy

No abstract provided.

Exploring Strategies For Integrated Information Literacy: From "Academic Champions" To Institution-Wide Change, Claire Mcguinness

Communications in Information Literacy

In this paper, the author critically reviews the strategies that have been adopted by librarians to secure academic support for curriculum-integrated information literacy (IL) instruction, and questions whether the popular approach of targeting individual academics offers a suitable foundation for the establishment of long-term IL programs. The paper suggests that librarians should instead align their IL objectives with the overall academic mission of their institutions and seek out the means to effect a more wide-ranging change in the academic culture, where IL is recognized as a core educational value. Several strategies are suggested by which this aim may be achieved.

Network Analysis Of A Shared Governance System, Debra Reifman Whitall

Dissertations and Theses

This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the role of networks in creating efficacious systems of governance. In particular, this study considers if, in addition to network structure, two network characteristics, network social capital and network management, each have direct and indirect effects on network performance. Also considered are the combined effects of these three network characteristics on network performance. The findings of this study re-examine the relationship between network characteristics and performance, especially the influence of network structure on performance. Thus, this study has practical implications for policy makers regarding effective collaborative strategies.

This study used …

Family Participation : Exploring The Role It Plays In Outcomes For Youth With Serious Emotional Disorders, Jodi Lee Kerbs

Dissertations and Theses

The participation of families of children with emotional or behavioral disorders is increasingly seen as an essential component of children's mental health services. Although it is frequently discussed in the literature, family participation has not been a major focus of most research surrounding youth with serious emotional disorders (SED). This gap in research is particularly evident in the literature related to those youth who are also in the juvenile justice system. This study explored the concept of family participation in the context of services for youth with SED and examined the relationship between family participation in treatment planning and child …

Diversity Training Needs Assessment, Masami Nishishiba

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

The Diversity Action Council of Wagner College requested a needs assessment for a diversity-training program for the Wagner campus community. A series of informal meetings with students, faculty, staff, and administrators was arranged on March 28, 2007.

Several key themes emerged from the various group discussions. They are organized in three categories: (a) Strengths, (b) Issues, and (c) What needs to be done.

Newcomer Adjustment During Organizational Socialization: A Meta-Analytic Review Of Antecedents, Outcomes, And Methods, Talya N. Bauer, Berrin Erdogan, Todd Bodner, Donald M. Truxillo, Jennifer S. Tucker

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The authors tested a model of antecedents and outcomes of newcomer adjustment using 70 unique samples of newcomers with meta-analytic and path modeling techniques. Specifically, they proposed and tested a model in which adjustment (role clarity, self-efficacy, and social acceptance) mediated the effects of organizational socialization tactics and information seeking on socialization outcomes (job satisfaction, organizational commitment, job performance, intentions to remain, and turnover). The results generally supported this model. In addition, the authors examined the moderating effects of methodology on these relationships by coding for 3 methodological issues: data collection type (longitudinal vs. cross-sectional), sample characteristics (school-to-work vs. work-to-work …

Faculty Senate Monthly Packet May 2007, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

The May 2007 Monthly packet includes the May agenda and appendices and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held April 2007

Distributed Cooperative Framework And Algorithms For Wireless Network Performance Optimization, Emily Hong Qi

Dissertations and Theses

In Wireless Local Access Networks (WLANs), the Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol is the primary element that determines the efficiency of sharing the limited communication bandwidth of the wireless channel. IEEE 802.11 MAC uses the contention-based Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) as a fundamental medium access mechanism. However, the dynamic nature of the wireless environment creates mobility challenges of maintaining maximum channel capacity, of obtaining optimal throughput and latency, and of retaining good security in a distributed wireless network.

This dissertation first introduces a set of parameters to characterize the medium status and radio environment, and a mechanism for mobile devices …

Non-Thiol Reagents Regulate Ryanodine Receptor Function By Redox Interactions That Modify Reactive Thiols, Benjamin S. Marinov, Rotimi O. Olojo, Ruohong Xia, Jonathan J. Abramson

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Ca(2+) release channel (CRC) from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is rich in thiol groups, and their oxidation/- reduction by thiol reagents activates/inhibits the CRC. Most channel regulators are not thiol reagents, and the mechanism of their action is illusive. Here the authors show that many channel activators act as electron acceptors, while many channel inhibitors act as electron donors in free radical reactions. The channel activator, caffeine, and the CRC inhibitor, tetracaine, are shown to interact competitively, which suggests that there exists a common site(s) on the CRC, that integrates the donor/acceptor effects of ligands. Moreover, channel activators shift the …

Non-Laser-Based Scanner For Three-Dimensional Digitization Of Historical Artifacts, Donald D. Duncan, Daniel V. Hahn, Kevin C. Baldwin

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A 3D scanner, based on incoherent illumination techniques, and associated data-processing algorithms are presented that can be used to scan objects at lateral resolutions ranging from 5 to 100 m (or more) and depth resolutions of approximately 2 m. The scanner was designed with the specific intent to scan cuneiform tablets but can be utilized for other applications. Photometric stereo techniques are used to obtain both a surface normal map and a parameterized model of the object’s bidirectional reflectance distribution function. The normal map is combined with height information, gathered by structured light techniques, to form a consistent 3D surface. …

An Emotional Mimicking Humanoid Biped Robot And Its Quantum Control Based On The Constraint Satisfaction Model, Quay Williams, Scott Bogner, Michael Kelley, Carolina Castillo, Martin Lukac, Dong Hwa Kim, Jeff S. Allen, Mathias I. Sunardi, Sazzad Hossain, Marek Perkowski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The paper presents a humanoid robot that responds to human gestures seen by a camera. The behavior of the robot can be completely deterministic as specified by a Finite State Machine that maps the sensor signals to the effector signals. This model is further extended to the constraints-satisfaction based model that links robots vision, motion, emotional behavior and planning. One way of implementing this model is to use adiabatic quantum computer which quadratically speeds-up every constraint problem and will be thus necessary to solve large problems of this type. We propose to use the remotely-connected Orion system by DWAVE Corporation.

Global Sourcing And Logistics, Martin Christopher, Fu Jia, Omera Khan, Carlos Mena, Erik Sandberg

Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

The sourcing of products from across the global marketplace is an increasing trend associated with economic development. This trend is the result of many independent decisions taken by firms around the world looking for new sources of competitive advantage. However, these decisions can also have unintended consequences, exposing the firms to hidden costs and risks, creating congestion at different points in the global transport infrastructure and increasing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.

This report presents the results of a project conducted in 2006-07, aimed at improving global sourcing practices, with a particular emphasis on the implications for the UK. …

Multiplex Snp Discrimination, Daniel J. Fish, M. Todd Horne, Robert P. Searles, Greg P. Brewood, Albert S. Benight

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Multiplex hybridization reactions of perfectly matched duplexes and duplexes containing a single basepair mismatch (SNPs) were investigated on DNA microarrays. Effects of duplex length, G-C percentage, and relative position of the SNP on duplex hybridization and SNP resolution were determined. Our theoretical model of multiplex hybridization accurately predicts observed results and implicates target concentration as a critical variable in multiplex SNP detection.

Portland State Magazine, Portland State University. Office Of University Communications

Portland State Magazine

PSU’s alumni magazine, published 2-3 times a year. In this issue: President Dan Bernstine is leaving a legacy of growth and pride; controversy again surrounds Aslam Khalil’s research on methane; a PSU-based program is making huge strides in helping teen offenders; and more.

Mother/Infant Interaction In The Context Of Four Maternal Risk Factors, Deirdre Ann Winder

Dissertations and Theses

Social-emotional skill acquisition in infancy can effect positive outcomes in all developmental domains as the child matures. Caregiver/infant interaction provides a critical context for positive social-emotional development in the infant (i.e., attachment, emotional regulation, communication). Within interaction, these three areas of infant social-emotional development are fostered by the dyadic relationship between caregiver and infant. However, infant skill acquisition within these areas of social-emotional development may be interrupted by risk factors in the caregiving environment. Four maternal risk factors (i.e., mental health, literacy level, age, income) associated with a negative impact on developmental outcome and on interaction were the focus of …

Meeting Notes 2007-04-26 , Joint Policy Advisory Committee On Transportation

Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation

No abstract provided.

City Club Report On Ballot Measures 26-91 & 26-92, City Club Of Portland (Portland, Or.)

City Club of Portland

No abstract provided.

Meeting Notes 2007-04-12 , Joint Policy Advisory Committee On Transportation

Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation

No abstract provided.

A Multilevel Analysis Of Individual And Organizational-Level Effects On Staff Attitudes Towards Use Of Medication In Substance Abuse Treatment, John Patrick Fitzgerald

Dissertations and Theses

Studies consistently indicate a general lack of support for use of medications in the treatment of substance abuse disorders by clinicians, patients, and other stakeholders involved in treatment. Both individual and organizational factors have been shown to influence attitudes towards medications, but the relative contribution of each of these factors remains unclear. Whereas previous studies, by their very design, have generated multilevel data structures, they nevertheless have employed analytic strategies that ignore the multilevel dependencies inherent in such data sets.

To address these limitations, this study took a multilevel approach to investigate the influence of individual and organizational factors on …

Selected Chemistry Of Biologically-Active Thiols : N-Acetylpenicillamine And 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole In Nitrosothiol Formation And Role In Allergic Contact Dermatitis Respectively, Itai Chipinda

Dissertations and Theses

Two biologically-active thiols, N-acetylpenicillamine (NAP) and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), were studied in this thesis. NAP is known to combine with nitric oxide (NO) to produce S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and MBT is a known allergen.

The formation, reaction dynamics, and detailed kinetics and mechanism of the reaction between nitrous acid (HNO2), prepared in situ, and NAP to produce SNAP were studied. The reaction is first order in nitrite, NAP and acid in pH conditions at or slightly higher than the pKa of HNO2. Both HPLC and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry techniques confirmed the formation of SNAP and the absence of any other products. …

Faculty Senate Monthly Packet April 2007, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

The April 2007 Monthly packet includes the April agenda and appendices and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held March 2007

Building Community Research Capacity: Process Evaluation Of Community Training And Education In A Community-Based Participatory Research Program Serving A Predominately Puerto Rican Community, Laurene M. Tumiel-Berhalter, Victoria Mclaughlin-Diaz, John Vena, Carlos J. Crespo

Community Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Education and training build community research capacity and have impact on improvements of health outcomes.

Objectives: This manuscript describes the training and educational approaches to building research capacity that were utilized in a community-based participatory research program serving a Puerto Rican population and identifies barriers and strategies for overcoming them.

Methods: A process evaluation identified a multitiered approach to training and education that was critical to reaching the broad community.

Results: This approach included four major categories providing a continuum of education and training opportunities: networking, methods training, on-the-job experience, and community education. Participation in these opportunities supported the …

Spontaneous Mode Locking In Mixed-Broadened Laser Oscillators, Pitak Chenkosol, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A theoretical model is reported for spontaneous mode locking in mixed-broadened laser oscillators. Experimental observations of this effect have been available for many years, but no rigorous interpretation has been given. Numerical calculations emphasize the case of a high-gain xenon laser, for which extensive experimental data have been published. Complex pulsation characteristics are observed as the cavity length and pumping rate are varied, and the theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Pointing Users Toward Citation Searching: Using Google Scholar And Web Of Science, Robert Schroeder

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Since April 2005, 10 studies have been published that directly compare the citation features of Google Scholar to those of Web of Science. In an effort to better understand the advantages and disadvantages of these tools, the author undertook an investigation of this research. Although the parameters of the studies varied greatly with respect to the disciplines, dates, and sample sizes, analysis of these preliminary studies can help us gain an initial—albeit sketchy—impression of the relative strength and weakness of each service. The results of this effort are reported here as an informal meta-analysis, followed by some recommendations for utilizing …

Spiders Fluoresce Variably Across Many Taxa, Kindra Andrews, Scott M. Reed, Susan E. Masta

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The evolution of fluorescence is largely unexplored, despite the newfound occurrence of this phenomenon in a variety of organisms. We document that spiders fluoresce under ultraviolet illumination, and find that the expression of this trait varies greatly among taxa in this species-rich group. All spiders we examined possess fluorophores in their haemolymph, but bright fluorescence appears to result when a spider sequesters fluorophores in its setae or cuticle. By sampling widely across spider taxa, we determine that fluorescent expression is labile and has evolved multiple times. Moreover, examination of the excitation and emission properties of extracted fluorophores reveals that spiders …

Effects Of Ocean Thermocline Variability On Noncoherent Underwater Acoustic Communications, Martin Siderius, Michael B. Porter, Paul Hursky, Vincent Mcdonald

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The performance of acoustic modems in the ocean is strongly affected by the oceanenvironment. A storm can drive up the ambient noise levels, eliminate a thermocline by wind mixing, and whip up violent waves and thereby break up the acoustic mirror formed by theocean surface. The combined effects of these and other processes on modem performance are not well understood. The authors have been conducting experiments to study these environmental effects on various modulation schemes. Here the focus is on the role of the thermocline on a widely used modulation scheme (frequency-shift keying). Using data from a recent experiment conducted …

The World Health Organization Age-Friendly Cities Project In Portland, Oregon, Usa, Margaret B. Neal, Alan Kenneth Delatorre

Institute on Aging Publications

The older population is increasing in size in Portland, the state of Oregon, the United States, and the rest of the world. Our cities and regions are vital to the support of this demographic shift through the provision of quality built environments, services, and social, cultural, and civic engagement opportunities promote healthy and active aging.

Over the next 30 years, the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area will see dramatic growth in the proportion of the population that is aged 65 and older. Although the total population will increase by 47 percent, the 65+ population will more than double, growing by over 137 …

The Portland Spectator, March 2007, Portland State University. Student Publications Board

Portland Spectator

Editor: Crystal Joele Rea

Articles in this issue include: Students speak: A generation of spoiled brats; Spotlight on Oregon: Next step for the Mannix campaign; PSU culture: Multiculturalism vs. cultural relativism; National controversies: universal healthcare; Nation watch: Presidential bids; National controversies: All Europeans are illegal.

Faculty Senate Monthly Packet March 2007, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

The March 2007 Monthly packet includes the March agenda and appendices and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held February 2007