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Capillarity-Driven Droplet Ejection, Andrew Paul Wollman

Dissertations and Theses

Drop Towers provide brief terrestrial access to microgravity environments. When used for capillary fluidics research, a drop tower allows for unique control over an experiment's initial conditions, which enables, enhances, or otherwise improves the study of capillary phenomena at significantly larger length scales than can normally be achieved on the ground. This thesis provides a historical context for the introduction of a new, highly accessible, 2.1s tower design used for capillary research and presents a variety of demonstrative experimental results for purely capillarity-driven flows leading to bubble ingestion, sinking flows, multiphase flows, and droplet ejections. The focus of this thesis …

2012 Commencement Program, Jean Auel

Commencement Archives 2010-19

The program for the 2012 Portland State University commencement ceremony held June 17, 2012.

Author Jean Auel delivered the commencement address and was presented with an honorary degree by PSU President Wim Wiewel and Provost Roy Koch.

Educating Citizens, City Club Of Portland (Portland, Or.)

City Club of Portland

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Utility Pole Placement And Characteristics On Pentachlorophenol Concentrations Entering Underground Injection Control (Uic) Devices: City Of Gresham, Oregon, Katie Bohnren

Environmental Science and Management Professional Master's Project Reports

Urbanization is causing increased amounts of stormwater runoff, while simultaneously decreasing the amount of pervious surface area for infiltration. Multiple priority pollutants have been identified in urban stormwater, including pentachlorophenol (PCP). PCP is often found in stormwater samples exceeding the Safe Drinking Water Act limit of 1μg/L and can cause human health issues with exposure over time. Treated wood utility poles are the major source of PCP in urban stormwater. With the use of underground injection control (UIC) devices as an alternative method to treat and dispose of stormwater, the potential exists for groundwater contamination of PCP. The City of …

System Dynamics Implementation Of A Model Of Population And Resource Dynamics With Adaptation, Takuro Uehara, Yoko Nagase, Wayne Wakeland

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

We build and analyze a dynamic ecological economic model that incorporates endogenous innovation on input substitutability. The use of the system dynamics method allows us to depart from conventional equilibrium thinking and conduct an out-of-equilibrium (adaptation) analysis. Simulation results show that while improvement in input substitutability will expand an economy, this change alone may not improve sustainability measured by indicators such as utility-per-capita and natural resource stock. It could, however, be possible that in combination with other technological progress, improvement in input substitutability will contribute to sustainable development. Sensitivity analysis also indicates a possible complication with the use of exogenous …

Complexity Theory And Political Change: Talcott Parsons Occupies Wall Street [Presentation], Martin Zwick

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

Complexity theory can assist our understanding of social systems and social phenomena. This paper illustrates this assertion by linking Talcott Parsons' model of societal structure to the Occupy Wall Street movement. Parsons' model is used to organize ideas about the underlying causes of the recession that currently afflicts the US. While being too abstract to depict the immediate factors that precipitated this crisis, the model is employed to articulate the argument that vulnerability to this type of event results from flaws in societal structure. This implies that such crises can be avoided only if, in Parsons' terms, structural change occurs …

The Intersection Between Science And Computer Science Is Almost Empty, Dick Hamlet

Systems Science Friday Noon Seminar Series

Traditionally, a science such as physics overlaps with mathematics and engineering in a way that has been astonishingly productive. The math provides precise expression for the science, which in turn supplies the engineering with the information it needs to exploit physical phenomena. Computer science naturally wishes to put itself in the center of the traditional picture as a science. Unfortunately, it won't wash. The `science' of programming is pure and simple mathematics, not science. The distinction is more than linguistic, since science and mathematics have quite distinct goals and methods. By making the wrong choice, computer science research has been …

Using Environmental Variables And Soil Processes To Forecast Denitrification Potential And Nitrous Oxide Fluxes In Coastal Plain Wetlands Across Different Land Uses, Jennifer L. Morse, Marcelo Ardón, Emily S. Bernhardt

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

We examined relationships between denitrification (DNF) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes and potentially important chemical and physical predictors to build a predictive understanding of gaseous N losses from coastal plain wetlands. We collected soil, gas, and pore water samples from 48 sampling locations across a large (440 ha) restored wetland, an adjacent drained agricultural field, and nearby forested wetlands every two months over two years. In summer and fall 2007, we measured soil DNF potential (21.6-3560 mg N m-3 d-1) and N2O efflux (-4.36-8.81 mg N m -2 d-1), along with 17 predictor variables. We developed statistical models for the …

Bayesian And Related Methods: Techniques Based On Bayes' Theorem, Mehmet Vurkaç

Systems Science Friday Noon Seminar Series

Bayes' theorem is a simple algebraic consequence of conditional probability. Yet, its consequences are critical to philosophy, society, and technology. Starting from its simple derivation, we will show how its interpretation in terms of base rates (priors) and class-conditional likelihoods illuminates everyday problems in medicine and law, and provides signal processing, communications, machine learning, model selection, and other applications of statistics with powerful classification and estimation tools. Next, we will briefly examine some of the ways in which this theorem can be adopted to include multiple attributes, contexts, hypotheses, and levels of risk. Methods derived from or related to Bayes’ …

Idocument: How Smartphones And Tablets Are Changing Documentation In Preschool And Primary Classrooms, William A. Parnell, Jackie Bartlett

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

The article discusses the use of smartphones and other digital technology devices in early childhood education as a means of documenting students' daily progress and integrating it into online portfolios. It addresses the benefits of including parents in education through educational blogs and other online resources. The authors suggest tips for effective digital documentation and mobile technology usage. Other topics explored include interpreting children's learning, reaffirming children as learners, and addressing the limitations of handheld technology.

A Fast Response Highly Selective Probe For The Detection Of Glutathione In Human Blood Plasma, Yixing Guo, Xiaofeng Yang, Lovemore Hakuna, Aabha Barve, Jorge O. Escobedo, Mark Lowry, Robert M. Strongin

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

A fluorescent probe for glutathione (GSH) detection was developed. Our study indicates a possible mechanism which couples a conjugate addition and micelle-catalyzed large membered ring formation/elimination sequence. This method enables excellent selectivity towards GSH over other biological thiols such as cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy). The proposed method is precise with a relative standard deviation (R.S.D) lower than 6% (n = 3) and has been successfully applied to determine GSH in human plasma with recoveries between 99.2% and 102.3%.

Exploratory Methods For Truck Re-Identification In A Statewide Network Based On Axle Weight And Axle Spacing Data To Enhance Freight Metrics: Phase Ii, Mecit Cetin, Christopher M. Monsere

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Vehicle re-identification methods can be used to anonymously match vehicles crossing two different locations based on vehicle attribute data. This research builds upon a previous study and investigates different methods for solving the re-identification problem and explores some of the factors that impact the accuracy of the results. To support this work, archived data from weigh-in-motion (WIM) stations in Oregon are used for developing, calibrating, and testing vehicle re-identification algorithms. In addition to the Bayesian approach developed by the researchers in the previous study, a neural network model is developed for solving the re-identification problem. The results from the testing …

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: Autism diagnoses are rising at an alarming rate, but help is out there; a new collection in the PSU Library chronicles a Portland couple’s commitment to civil rights; the University’s Social Innovation Incubator is guiding businesses that want to save the world; and more.

Redeveloping Regional Economies For Present And Future Generations: Prosperity For People Within Ecological Limits, Langdon Marsh, Craig W. Shinn

Institute for Sustainable Solutions Publications and Presentations

Many scientists and scholars believe the world is headed toward multiple ecological and social crises during the lifetime of much of the world's population. If they are correct, a shift in how economies work will be necessary. We will no longer be able to rely on the ever expanding use of natural resources with the attendant pollution from their extraction, processing, transport, disposal, and social costs including civil disruptions and wars associated with greater scarcity. A number of proposals have been made that offer either comprehensive or partial solutions to the regional and global dimensions of these impending crises. One …

Simple Ecosystem Service Valuation Can Impact National Forest Management, David E. Ervin, Gary Larsen, Craig Shinn

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

This essay is about how a relatively simple application of the ‘new scarcity’ paradigm for non-market ecosystem services (Simpson, Toman and Ayres 2005) changed the management plan for a national forest. We identify lessons from our experience for AERE members.

Organizational Models For Teacher Learning, Micki M. Caskey, Jan Marie Carpenter

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this article is to explore organizational models for teacher learning that are being used in middle level schools, including common planning time, professional learning communities, and critical friends groups. After offering a brief definition of each model of teacher learning, we describe the theoretical underpinnings of the models, summarize the relevant research regarding the use of these models, and offer concluding remarks with implications for middle level education.

An Individual-Based Process Model To Simulate Landscape-Scale Forest Ecosystem Dynamics, Rupert Seidi, Werner Rammer, Robert M. Scheller, Thomas A. Spies

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Forest ecosystem dynamics emerges from nonlinear interactions between adaptive biotic agents (i.e., individual trees) and their relationship with a spatially and temporally heterogeneous abiotic environment. Understanding and predicting the dynamics resulting from these complex interactions is crucial for the sustainable stewardship of ecosystems, particularly in the context of rapidly changing environmental conditions. Here we present iLand (the individual-based forest landscape and disturbance model), a novel approach to simulating forest dynamics as an emergent property of environmental drivers, ecosystem processes and dynamic interactions across scales. Our specific objectives were (i) to describe the model, in particular its novel approach to simulate …

Designing And Implementing An Information Literacy Course In The Humanities, Ellen Daugman, Leslie Mccall, Kaeley Mcmahan

Communications in Information Literacy

As instructors in the Z. Smith Reynolds Library information literacy program at Wake Forest University, we are expanding beyond our introductory course model to teach discipline-specific information literacy courses. Z. Smith Reynolds Library initiated an information literacy program in 2002 and currently offers a 1-credit elective, taught in 15 sections per semester. Advanced discipline-specific courses were added in Spring 2008, and include courses in the social sciences, business and economics, and the sciences. As the subject specialists for art, dance, literature, music, religion and theatre, we were charged with creating a credit-bearing arts and humanities information literacy course, LIB250: Humanities …

Bayesian Geoacoustic Inversion Using Wind-Driven Ambient Noise, Jorge E. Quijano, Stan E. Dosso, Jan Dettmer, Lisa M. Zurk, Martin Siderius, Chris H. Harrison

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper applies Bayesian inversion to bottom-loss data derived from wind-driven ambient noisemeasurements from a vertical line array to quantify the information content constraining seabed geoacoustic parameters. The inversion utilizes a previously proposed ray-based representation of the ambient noise field as a forward model for fast computations of bottom loss data for a layered seabed. This model considers the effect of the array’s finite aperture in the estimation of bottom loss and is extended to include the wind speed as the driving mechanism for the ambient noise field. The strength of this field relative to other unwanted noise mechanisms defines …

Examining The Effectiveness And Robustness Of Sequential Data Assimilation Methods For Quantification Of Uncertainty In Hydrologic Forecasting, Caleb Matthew Dechant, Hamid Moradkhani

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In hydrologic modeling, state-parameter estimation using data assimilation techniques is increasing in popularity. Several studies, using both the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) and the particle filter (PF) to estimate both model states and parameters have been published in recent years. Though there is increasing interest and a growing literature in this area, relatively little research has been presented to examine the effectiveness and robustness of these methods to estimate uncertainty. This study suggests that state-parameter estimation studies need to provide a more rigorous testing of these techniques than has previously been presented. With this in mind, this paper presents a …

Social, Structural And Behavioral Determinants Of Overall Health Status In A Cohort Of Homeless And Unstably Housed Hiv-Infected Men, Elise D. Riley, Torsten B. Neilands, Kelly Moore, Jennifer Cohen, David Bangsberg, Diane Havler

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Previous studies indicate multiple influences on the overall health of HIV-infected persons; however, few assess and rank longitudinal changes in social and structural barriers that are disproportionately found in impoverished populations. We empirically ranked factors that longitudinally impact the overall health status of HIV-infected homeless and unstably housed men.

Methods and Findings: Between 2002 and 2008, a cohort of 288 HIV+ homeless and unstably housed men was recruited and followed over time. The population was 60% non-Caucasian and the median age was 41 years; 67% of study participants reported recent drug use and 20% reported recent homelessness. At baseline, …

The “Impossible Trinity” Hypothesis In An Era Of Global Imbalances: Measurement And Testing, Joshua Aizenman, Menzie David Chinn, Hiro Ito

Economics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We outline new metrics for measuring the trilemma aspects: exchange rate flexibility, monetary independence, and capital account openness, taking into account recent substantial international reserve accumulation. Since 2000, the trilemma variables in emerging markets have converged towards intermediate levels, characterizing by managed flexibility, using sizable international reserves as a buffer while retaining some degree of monetary autonomy. We test the linearity of the trilemma, and find that the weighted sum of the three trilemma variables adds up to a constant. Thus, a rise in one trilemma variable should be traded-off with a drop of the weighted sum of the other …

A Performance Assessment Of Two Multi-Component Water Quality Facilities In The Columbia Slough And Fairview Creek Watersheds, Chris Robinson

Environmental Science and Management Professional Master's Project Reports

We examined the treatment trains at the Columbia Slough (CSWQF) and Fairview Creek Water Quality Facilities (FCWQF) in Gresham, OR and assessed their effectiveness at removing pollutants including nutrients, TSS, metals, pesticides, PAHs, and VOCs. Time-paced, fixed volume composite samples were collected during storm events at the inlets and outlet of the CSWQF and at the inlets and outlet of each treatment train component of the FCWQF. In addition, long-term data collected at the FCWQF was analyzed. Composite data collected during November 2-3, 2011 and March 5-6, 2012 showed that the treatment trains can measurably reduce the event mean concentration …

Freedom As A Natural Phenomenon, Martin Zwick

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

This phenomenon of "freedom" in the natural world - and indirectly the question of free will - is explored using systems-theoretic concepts that link the idea of freedom to ideas about autonomy and agency. The focus is on living systems in general, and on living systems that have cognitive subsystems more specifically. After touching on the relevance to freedom of determinism vs. randomness, the paper examines four types of freedom: (i) independence from fixed materiality, (ii) activeness that is unblocked and wholistic, (iii) internal rather than external determination, and (iv) regulation by an informational subsystem. These types of freedom are …

Untitled (12th Istanbul Biennial), Dave Colangelo

School of Film Faculty Publications and Presentations

A review of the 12th Istanbul Biennial, held in 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey, with a focus on curatorial decision making and how this is thematically expressed in the exhibition.

Faculty Senate Monthly Packet April 2012, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

The April 2012 Monthly packet includes the April agenda and appendices and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held March 2012

Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Is Unaffected By Modest Changes In Pressure, Benjamin Charles Webber, Christiane A. Carney, Mark Woods

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

ParaCEST (paramagnetic Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer) agents offer an unparalleled opportunity to perform quantitative molecular imaging by MRI. Agents that can alter the image contrast they generate in response to changes in local environmental parameters such as pH, glucose concentration or lactate concentration can be used ratiometrically to quantitatively describe the local tissue environment. However, when performing such quantitative measurements it is important that the results are not confounded by changes in a second environmental parameter. In vivo pressure varies quite considerably, both through the respiratory cycle and from tissue to tissue (tumors in particular have high interstitial pressures). Since …

The Role Of Habitat Restoration And Conservation In The Changing Socio-Economic Conditions Of Grant County, Oregon, Kristen Lauren Senkyr

Dissertations and Theses

Habitat restoration has socio-economic as well as biophysical impacts. In Grant County, Oregon a recent influx of funding and technical resources for habitat restoration has led to focused monitoring efforts there to better understand the impacts. This study explores how local land use and land management practices are changing in Grant County as a result of restoration and other drivers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 landowners, land managers, and long time residents to document the change they have observed and identify how they are adapting. The results suggest that many interconnected social, economic, and ecological changes have taken place …

4 Inches Of Living Soil: Teaching Biodiversity In The Learning Gardens–A Photo-Essay, Dilafruz R. Williams

Educational Leadership and Policy Faculty Publications and Presentations

In Learning Gardens and Sustainability Education: Bringing Life to Schools and Schools to Life, Williams and Brown (2011) place living soil at the center of the discourse on sustainability education. One of the seven principles that guides their pedagogy of learning gardens is: valuing biocultural diversity. This photo-essay of elementary students in K-8 schools, explores how 4 inches of soil in the learning gardens can teach about life’s diversity. The author urges humble attentiveness to that which is below our feet seemingly hidden and unnoticed yet teeming with life.

Application Of Inter-Die Rank Statistics In Defect Detection, Vivek Bakshi

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis presents a statistical method to identify the test escapes. Test often acquires parametric measurements as a function of logical state of a chip. The usual method of classifying chips as pass or fail is to compare each state measurement to a test limit. Subtle manufacturing defects are escaping the test limits due to process variations in deep sub-micron technologies which results in mixing of healthy and faulty parametric test measurements. This thesis identifies the chips with subtle defects by using rank order of the parametric measurements. A hypothesis is developed that a defect is likely to disturb the …