Digital Commons Network^™

Continuous And Symmetrical Transformations In The Framework Of Classical Particle Systems, Nima Laal

University Honors Theses

Historically, symmetry has been associated with beauty and perfection, something that is merely a visual characteristic. However, in the realm of physics, symmetry is fundamental: it exists in physical systems and even in the laws of physics. In this study, only one particular type of symmetry - the continuous symmetry- is discussed in great depth. While a discussion of why symmetry exists is not the concern of this paper, the connection that exists between continuous symmetries and conservation laws, through Noether's theorem, is the focus of this study. Despite many articles and books that seek to understand Noether's theorem using …

Facility Location Model For Free Clinics To Address Healthcare Disparities In Portland, Or, Mikhaela C. Sample

University Honors Theses

Americans are consistently spending more time and money on their healthcare. The increase in spending is not consistent across all demographics. Minority and lower-income individuals are often spending the most. The locations of healthcare facilities are a key contributor to this discrepancy. The distance an individual must travel for healthcare leads to their exclusion from accessing that facility if the distance is too great. Engineers work to remedy this disparity in access using facility location models. The work presented herein uses one such model to address healthcare disparities in Portland, Oregon. The formulation is a maximal covering location model that …

Community Music For Human Development: A Brain-Centered Approach To Outreach, Jesse M. Hamlin

University Honors Theses

In an effort to combat the harmful physiological, societal, and psychological effects of the cutting of arts and music program budgets in public schools, and close the achievement gap for those in lower socioeconomic classes and underrepresented populations, this thesis created a functional community music training program, especially for homeless youth in Portland, OR. The author reviewed current literature across disciplines to form a curriculum based on evidence in psychological, educational, and cognitive neuroscience research. The curriculum was collaboratively formed with active music training professionals. The intervention was piloted via the ongoing collaboration between Portland-based arts-integrated science outreach group NW …

The Path To Modern Iran: An Examination Of Shiite Islam's Influence (1900-Present), Autymn A. Langford

University Honors Theses

Throughout history, we have struggled to determine how best to govern and maintain our societies. Many times religion has found a place in government by providing an enforceable framework of expected behaviors and laws to impose over citizens to create order in society.

In a country that separates church and state, the government attempts to not enact laws that are directly derived from any one religious ideology to avoid imposing religious codes onto citizens who choose to not abide by that particular religious code. In Iran the government has taken form as a theocracy, referred to as the Islamic Republic …

Some Assembly Required: Computational Simulations Of Dusty Plasma, Isabel J. Rodriguez

University Honors Theses

From astronomy to industry, dust’s ubiquitous presence in plasma (so called "complex" or "dusty" plasma) makes it an interesting object of study for a number of different fields. In some cases, it plays a critical role in the progression of processes such as the formation of stars, planets, and complex molecules in interstellar clouds. In laboratory environments, it can play a more troublesome role– hindering, for instance, the efficiency of integrated circuits which are the foundation of our modern technological capabilities. Advances in computing power have enabled the utilization of simulations as a tool for exploring particle transport in a …

Designing Model Experiments Around Harriet Tubman Middle School, Ryan Crist, Sarah Smith, Greg Sakradse, Ryan Scott

Maseeh Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

Air quality is of concern in densely populated areas and especially near sources of inefficiently exhausted fossil fuel such as near the highway. Harriet Tubman middle school in North Portland, Oregon is situated alongside highway 5. Here, model experiments are designed and proposed to observe the instantaneous flow fields reflect modifications. LIDAR data was used to model the school and surrounding topography three-dimensionally in order to construct a model school and surrounding area from laser cut cardboard with a surface smoothed with paper mache. This model will be placed in the Portland State University wind tunnel; transport of mean and …

Clock Jitter In Communication Systems, Andrew Wayne Martwick

Dissertations and Theses

For reliable digital communication between devices, the sources that contribute to data sampling errors must be properly modeled and understood. Clock jitter is one such error source occurring during data transfer between integrated circuits. Clock jitter is a noise source in a communication link similar to electrical noise, but is a time domain noise variable affecting many different parts of the sampling process. Presented in this dissertation, the clock jitter effect on sampling is modeled for communication systems with the degree of accuracy needed for modern high speed data communication. The models developed and presented here have been used to …

Using Quenching To Detect Corrosion On Sculptural Metalwork: A Real-World Application Of Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Cory Hensen, Tami Lasseter Clare, Jack Barbera

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fluorescence spectroscopy experiments are a frequently taught as part of upper-division teaching laboratories. To expose undergraduate students to an applied fluorescence technique, a corrosion detection method, using quenching, was adapted from authentic research for an instrumental analysis laboratory. In the experiment, students acquire fluorescence spectra of sensing molecules in the presence of mock sculpture samples and discuss the condition of the sculptures based on the levels of soluble iron detected. This real-world-based experiment allows students the chance to engage with ongoing research and further understand the challenges with early detection of corrosion. Most students successfully completed the experiment, wrote a …

An Ethnographic Study Of Intermediate Students From Poverty: Intersections Of School And Home, Shiela G. Rector

Dissertations and Theses

The achievement gap in American schools between middle class students and students from poverty is well documented. This paper outlines the findings of a study designed to explore the experience and conscientization of struggling students from poverty. The argument will be made that poverty can be viewed as a culture and that this view may shed significant light on the dynamics of the achievement gap. Further, using the construct of poverty as a culture provides real life applications that have the potential to impact the achievement gap. The study explored the lived experiences in a public school setting of intermediate …

A New Finite Difference Time Domain Method To Solve Maxwell's Equations, Timothy P. Meagher

Dissertations and Theses

We have constructed a new finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method in this project. Our new algorithm focuses on the most important and more challenging transverse electric (TE) case. In this case, the electric field is discontinuous across the interface between different dielectric media. We use an electric permittivity that stays as a constant in each medium, and magnetic permittivity that is constant in the whole domain. To handle the interface between different media, we introduce new effective permittivities that incorporates electromagnetic fields boundary conditions. That is, across the interface between two different media, the tangential component, E_r(x,y), …

The Role Of The Developmental Editor In Emerging Forms Of Narrative, Stephanie Argy

Book Publishing Final Research Papers

This research paper looks at how developmental editing techniques and analytical processes can be applied to emerging forms of storytelling. By examining a sampling of projects that expand narrative beyond traditional approaches, and talking to people involved with those projects, this paper examines how developmental editing can be used in these new forms; the skills that editors might want to add to their toolkit; and the impact that developmental editors might be able to have on projects and on new storytelling forms themselves. The paper is meant as a roadmap for next steps for what editors might want to learn …

E-Cigarettes Can Emit Formaldehyde At High Levels Under Conditions That Have Been Reported To Be Non-Averse To Users, James C. Salamanca, Jiries Meehan-Attrash, Shawna Vreeke, Jorge O. Escobedo, David H. Peyton, Robert M. Strongin

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

E-cigarette aerosol emission studies typically focus on benchmarking toxicant levels versus those of cigarettes. However, such studies do not fully account for the distinct chemical makeup of e-liquids and their unique properties. These approaches often conclude that there are fewer and lower levels of toxins produced by e-cigarettes than by cigarettes. In 2015, we reported the discovery of new hemiacetals derived from the reaction of formaldehyde and the e-liquid solvents. The main finding was that they constituted a significant proportion of potentially undetected formaldehyde. Moreover, unlike gaseous formaldehyde, the hemiacetals reside in the aerosol particulate phase, and thus are capable …

Investigating The Role Of Genomic Variation In Susceptibility To Environmental Chemicals Across Populations, Lindsay Adrian Holden

Dissertations and Theses

No two individuals are identical. This is true at the genetic level and at the phenotypic level. One of the traits that varies between populations is toxicant susceptibility: some individuals are sensitive to the effects of environmental chemical exposure, and others are resistant. This body of work aims to address the impact of genomic copy number variants (CNV)--large (>1 Kb) duplications or deletions across the genome--on the toxicant-susceptibility phenotype.

Herein copy number variants were characterized across three commonly used laboratory strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and mRNA expression phenotypes were identified in the same strains. It was found that …

Transient Reactivation Of A Deep-Seated Landslide By Undrained Loading Captured With Repeat Airborne And Terrestrial Lidar, Adam M. Booth, Justin Mccarley, Jason Hinkle, Jean-Paul Ampuero, Michael P. Lamb

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Landslides reactivate due to external environmental forcing or internal mass redistribution, but the process is rarely documented quantitatively. We capture the three-dimensional, 1-m resolution surface deformation field of a transiently reactivated landslide with image correlation of repeat airborne lidar. Undrained loading by two debris flows in the landslide’s head, rather than external forcing, triggered reactivation. After that loading, the lower 2 km of the landslide advanced by up to 14 m in 2 years before completely stopping. The displacement field over those 2 years implies that the slip surface gained 1 kPa of shear strength, which was likely accomplished by …

Bond-Type Cfrp Anchorage System For Prestressed Concrete Applications, Yasir Saeed, Franz Rad, Salam Al-Obaidi

Student Research Symposium

High tensile strength, adjustable and high modulus of elasticity, high strength-to-weight ratio, and non-corrosiveness are great features which have made Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) very attractive to engineers. Prestressed concrete applications require high strength prestressing material that could apply and maintain effective compressive force to concrete members. Although FRPs, especially Carbon FRP (CFRP), have the desired strength, no efficient system for its anchorage to concrete has been devised yet. This paper presents an experimental evaluation on new bond-type CFRP anchors. A total of eleven samples were prepared and tested. The CFRP rods were 0.375 in. and 0.50 in. diameter. The …

Radiation Source Localization By Using Backpropagation Neural Network, Jian Meng, Christof Teuscher, Walt Woods

Student Research Symposium

The most difficult part of the radiation localization is that we cannot use the traditional acoustic localization method to determine where the radiation source is. It’s mainly because the electromagnetic waves are totally different with the sound wave. From the expression of the radioactive intensity, we can tell that the intensity of radiation not only depend on the distance from the radiation but also related to the type of the nuclide. In general, the relationship between the intensity and the distance satisfy the inverse-square law, which is a non-linear relationship. In other words, if we can use the measurement and …

Estimating Sand Loss: Using Eolian Sand Ramps As A Proxy For Estimating Past Erosion Within The Lincoln City Dune Sheet; Lincoln City, Oregon, Kara E. P. Kingen, John Bershaw, Curt D. Peterson

Student Research Symposium

Eolian sand ramps are features that are sculpted from beach sand blowing up against sea cliffs or bluffs. In some coastal areas, sand ramp deposits only appear as the erosional remnants of pre-existing ramps that have been truncated at eroded shorelines, separating them from their previous sediment supply. Although sand ramp features have been observed in other areas on the western coast of the United States , they had not been studied or documented within the Lincoln City Dune Sheet (LINC) prior to this study – which documents the existence of truncated eolian sand ramps in LINC and uses them …

Waking Students Up With Explorations Of Metabolic Dormancy: A Pilot Study Of The Killifish Cure, Emma Goodwin, Daniel E. Zajic, Jason E. Podrabsky, Erin E. Shortlidge

Student Research Symposium

A national goal for education reform is to provide opportunities for all biology undergraduates to participate in research. Traditionally, undergraduates gain research experience by apprenticing in faculty-led research labs; however, only a fraction of undergraduates have access to these opportunities. Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) are a type of laboratory course where students conduct experiments to answer relevant research questions, thus allowing undergraduates to gain authentic research experience at a large scale. To increase equity in opportunities for biology undergraduates to participate in authentic scientific research at Portland State University (PSU), we have designed and implemented a CURE to pilot …

Opportunities In Physics Education: Low-Cost Position Tracking For Use In Kinematics Labs, Paul R. Destefano, Cora Siebert, Roberto Perez-Franco, Thomas Allen, Gabriel Mukobi, Ralf Widenhorn

Student Research Symposium

Traditional introductory physics kinematics laboratories utilized a few different instruments for locating objects in motion, all of which have shortcomings. Some provide only timing data, which heavily restricts trajectories and data collection. Some instruments provide more measurements but restrict object shapes, orientations, and textures. Still others require extensive pre-processing. None of these traditional instruments provide two- or three-dimensional position data. New, low-cost, local positioning technology, based on radio frequency wireless communications, is available that enables novel redesigns of physics laboratories. This technology provides two- and three-dimensional position measurements, continuously, at data rates of 10 Hz or faster, from any object …

Diagnostic Platform For Current Health Status Monitoring, Albert S. Benight, Megan M. Koslen, Matthew W. Eskew

Student Research Symposium

Our approach is based on physical measurements of blood plasma and exploits the plethora of information contained in the human plasma proteome, as a reporter of human health status. The assay involves collection and analysis ofthermograms of plasma from human blood measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Plasma thermograms arise from the temperature-induced denaturation profile of proteins within blood plasma measured by DSC. This insightful measurement thereby provides a snapshot of the current state of the human plasma proteome which directly informs on overall systemic health. Such measurements have been shown to be highly accurate and sensitive indicators of health …

Biochemical Reservoir Computing, Hoang Nguyen, Christof Teuscher

Student Research Symposium

Reservoir computing is an emerging machine learning paradigm. Compared to traditional feedforward neural networks, the reservoir can be unstructured and recurrent and only the output layer is trained. Reservoirs can be built with various types of physical components, yet, biochemical building blocks have not been widely used. This project focuses on designing and testing a reservoir computer (RC) based on chemical reaction network (CRN). We simulated high-level CRNs in MATLAB and their complex chemical dynamics were observed over time. A CRN constructed by a network of coupled deoxyribozyme oscillators was chosen for the final RC model. The inputs of the …

Concrete Beams With Fully Corroded Steel Repaired With Cfrp Laminates, Needa M. Lingga, Yasir Saeed, Franz Rad, Anas Yosefani

Student Research Symposium

This research focused on concrete beams with voids simulating beams with fully corroded steel that were repaired with CFRP laminates. The experimental program included testing five, approximately one- third-scaled simply supported rectangular concrete beams. The aim was to investigate the extent of improvement by CFRP to flexural and shear capacity of beams that contain fully corroded steel bars, simulated by voids. Load carrying capacity, deflection, and ductility were measured and compared. Test results showed that one layer of CFRP increased the load capacity to slightly higher than the typical code-designed RC beam, and two layers of CFRP increased it by …

Metallodithiolate Ligands For Reversing Metal Ion Induced Aggregation Of Beta Amyloid, Eleanor K. Adams, Marilyn Rampersad Mackiewicz

Student Research Symposium

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States with no known methods to cure, reverse or halt disease progression. The “metal hypothesis” states that Fe^II, Cu^II, Zn^II, and Al^II bind to truncated Aβ peptides and form soluble oligomers which deposit as senile plaques. These plaques play a crucial role in AD pathogenesis. For example, metallated-Aβ aggregates are hypothesized to disrupt membranes or generate a reactive oxygen species (ROS) through redox cycling in the presence of Cu^I/II or Fe^III/II and a reducing agent. ROS can lead …

Assessment Of Observed Increases In Extreme Warm Exceedances In Locations With Short Warm Side Tails, Jacob S. Hunter, Paul C. Loikith, J. David Neelin

Student Research Symposium

Regions of shorter-than-Gaussian temperature distribution tails have been shown to occur in spatially coherent patterns in the current climate using reanalysis. Under such conditions, future changes in extremes due to global warming may manifest in more complex ways than if the underlying distribution were closer to Gaussian. For instance, under a uniform warm shift, the simplest prototype for future warming, a location with a short warm side tail would experience a greater increase in exceedances than if the distribution were Gaussian. This carries meaningful societal and environmental implications including but not limited to negative impacts on human and ecosystem health, …

Clustering And Multifacility Location With Constraints Via Distance Function Penalty Methods And Dc Programming, Tuyen Tran, Samuel Reynolds, Thai An Nguyen, Mau Nam Nguyen

Student Research Symposium

This is a continuation of our effort in using mathematical optimization involving DC programming in clustering and multifacility location. We study a penalty method based on distance functions and apply it particularly to a number of problems in clustering and multi- facility location in which the centers to be found must lie in some given set constraints. We also provide numerical examples to test our method.

Using Reservoir Computing To Build A Robust Interface With Dna Circuits In Determining Genetic Similarities Between Pathogens, Christopher Neighbor, Christof Teuscher

Student Research Symposium

As computational power increases, the field of neural networks has advanced exponentially. In particular recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are being utilized to simulate dynamic systems and to learn to predict time series data. Reservoir computing is an architecture which has the potential to increase training speed while reducing computational costs. Reservoir computing consists of a RNN with a fixed connections “reservoir” while only the output layer is trained. The purpose of this research is to explore the effective use of reservoir computing networks with the eventual application towards use in a DNA based molecular computing reservoir for use in pathogen …

Aerospace Mission Outcome: Predictive Modeling, Ephraim Suhir

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Human-in-the-Loop (HITL)-related models can be applied in various aerospace vehicular problems, when human qualifications and performance are crucial and the ability to quantify them is therefore imperative; since nobody is perfect, these evaluations should preferably be done on a probabilistic basis. The suggested models can also be used in many other areas of applied science and engineering, not even necessarily vehicular engineering, when a human encounters an extraordinary situation and should possess a sufficiently high human capacity factor (HCF) to successfully cope with an elevated mental workload (MWL). The incentive for probabilistic predictive modeling and the rationale for such modeling …

Multivalency Regulates Activity In An Intrinsically Disordered Transcription Factor, Sarah Clark, Janette B. Myers, Ashleigh King, Radovan Fiala, Jiri Novacek, Grant Pearce, Steve L. Reichow, Elisar J. Barbar

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The transcription factor ASCIZ (ATMIN, ZNF822) has an unusually high number of recognition motifs for the product of its main target gene, the hub protein LC8 (DYNLL1). Using a combination of biophysical methods, structural analysis by NMR and electron microscopy, and cellular transcription assays, we developed a model that proposes a concerted role of intrinsic disorder and multiple LC8 binding events in regulating LC8 transcription. We demonstrate that the long intrinsically disordered C-terminal domain of ASCIZ binds LC8 to form a dynamic ensemble of complexes with a gradient of transcriptional activity that is inversely proportional to LC8 occupancy. The preference …

Imide Arylation With Aryl(Tmp)Iodonium Tosylates, Souradeep Basu, Alexander H. Sandtorv, David R. Stuart

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Herein, we describe the synthesis of N-aryl phthalimides by metal-free coupling of potassium phthalimide with unsymmetrical aryl(TMP)iodonium tosylate salts. The aryl transfer from the iodonium moiety occurs under electronic control with the electronrich trimethoxyphenyl group acting as a competent dummy ligand. The yields of N-aryl phthalimides are moderate to high and the coupling reaction is compatible with electron-deficient and sterically encumbered aryl groups.

The Economic Contribution Of Stewardship Contracting: Two Case Studies From The Mount Hood National Forest, Jean M. Daniels, Max Nielsen-Pincus, Mike Paruszkiewicz, Nathan Poage

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

We conducted an economic analysis of two case study stewardship contracts on the Mount Hood National Forest in western Oregon. Stewardship contracting has been embraced by some federal managers to achieve restoration goals while providing economic benefits to local communities. Little is known about economic contributions from stewardship contracts, including how they compare against Secure Rural Schools funding or the century-old payments to counties revenue sharing system. Using expenditure data from sale purchasers, contractors, and fiscal agents, we developed methodology to track spending and used IMPLAN software to estimate economic contributions and multipliers. Results showed that (1) commercial thinning, service …