Digital Commons Network^™

Introduction To Common Native And Potential Invasive Freshwater Plants In Alaska, Vanessa Howard Morgan, Mark Sytsma

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

Freshwater aquatic plants are found in most lakes and rivers in Alaska. They range from tiny floating plants that can form mats on a lake surface to emergent plants growing two meters above the water. Aquatic plants are an important part of freshwater environments. They provide food and shelter for a wide variety of insects, fish, mammals, and birds; stabilize shorelines; and form an important link in nutrient cycles. To date, Alaska has had relatively few problems with invasive, non-native aquatic plants. However, invasive aquatic plants pose an increasing threat to human safety and the integrity of native aquatic communities. …

Secondary National Board Candidates And Attitudes Toward Assessment: A Qualitative Study, Vincent Aleccia

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This study investigated the impact that National Board certification had on the assessment practice of secondary candidates in Eastern Washington. The study was framed by three research questions: (a) To what extent do National Board candidates think about the place of assessment in their classroom practice before they begin the process? (b) Does the National Board certification process impact their beliefs about assessment so that they see assessment in a different light by the time they complete the process? (c) Do teachers who have undergone the National Board certification process change the type of assessments used in their classroom practice …

Polynomial Extension Operators. Part Ii, Leszek Demkowicz, Jay Gopalakrishnan, Joachim Schöberl

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Consider the tangential trace of a vector polynomial on the surface of a tetrahedron. We construct an extension operator that extends such a trace function into a polynomial on the tetrahedron. This operator can be continuously extended to the trace space of H(curl ). Furthermore, it satisfies a commutativity property with an extension operator we constructed in Part I of this series. Such extensions are a fundamental ingredient of high order finite element analysis.

Stability Of Linear Flocks On A Ring Road, J. J. P. Veerman, Carlos Martins Da Fonseca

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We discuss some stability problems when each agent of a linear flock on the line interacts with its two nearest neighbors (one on either side).

Automated Traffic And The Finite Size Resonance, J. J. P. Veerman, Borko D. Stošić, F. M. Tangerman

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

We investigate in detail what one might call the canonical (automated) traffic problem: A long string of N+1 cars (numbered from 0 to N) moves along a one-lane road “in formation” at a constant velocity and with a unit distance between successive cars. Each car monitors the relative velocity and position of only its neighboring cars. This information is then fed back to its own engine which decelerates (brakes) or accelerates according to the information it receives. The question is: What happens when due to an external influence—a traffic light turning green—the ‘zero’th’ car (the “leader”) accelerates?

As …

Educational Change Through The Lens Of Complexity Science: Changing Thinking For Changed Learners, Suzann Girtz

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

As education professionals work in times of exponential change, how they think is as important as what they do. Our thought processes frame our creations—and for hundreds of years that frame has been a linear, Newtonian paradigm. Due to advances in hard sciences, we now know that there are other ways of framing our thoughts and understanding our world, and that is through complexity science. Complexity science is a powerful metaphor to use in reviewing our common understandings of school systems and how to reform them to better serve students. This paper includes a primer of complexity science terms and …

Computational Techniques For Reducing Spectra Of The Giant Planets In Our Solar System, Holly L. Grimes

Dissertations and Theses

The dynamic atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune provide a rich source of meteorological phenomena for scientists to study. To investigate these planets, scientists obtain spectral images of these bodies using various instruments including the Cooled Mid-Infrared Camera and Spectrometer (COMICS) at the Subaru Telescope Facility at Mauna Kea, Hawaii. These spectral images are two-dimensional arrays of double precision floating point values that have been read from a detector array. Such images must be reduced before the information they contain can be analyzed. The reduction process for spectral images from COMICS involves several steps:

1. Sky subtraction: the …

The Nature Of People's Perceptions Of Wolves, Laura Briana Nobel

Dissertations and Theses

European immigrants once regarded wolves as the "devil in disguise" (Lopez, 1978, p.40). With our growing awareness of other cultural perspectives and flourishing body of scientific knowledge with regard to wolves' behavior, our perceptions of wolves have become more complicated and nuanced. Our collective awareness of the environment in which we live also gathers complexity. I examine these issues in this study. Wolves are returning to Oregon. The arrival of wolf B-45 in 1999 heralded the beginning of the return of wild wolves to Oregon. More wolves are expected to cross the border as young sub-adults disperse from the growing …

Report On Wintering Western Snowy Plovers At Coos Bay North Spit And Impacts To Plovers From The North Jetty Repair Project, Winter 2009, David J. Lauten, Kathleen J. Castelein, Eleanor P. Gaines

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

The Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) breeds along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in California, Oregon, and Washington and at alkaline lakes in the interior of the western United States (Page et al. 1991). Loss of habitat, predation pressures, and disturbance have caused the decline of the coastal population of Snowy Plovers and led to the listing of the Pacific Coast Population of Western Snowy Plovers as Threatened on March 5, 1993 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1993). Oregon Western Snowy Plovers are known to winter along the coast of Oregon as well as migrate to …

An Idealized Model And Systematic Process Study Of Oxygen Depletion In Highly Turbid Estuaries, Stefan A. Talke, Huib E. De Swart, Victor De Jonge

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The sensitivity of oxygen depletion in turbid estuaries to parameters like freshwater discharge, depth, and sediment availability is investigated using an idealized model. The model describes tidally averaged circulation and suspended sediment concentration (SSC), which are input into an advection–diffusion sink module of dissolved oxygen (DO). Based on the analysis of field data collected in the Ems estuary, the modeled oxygen depletion rates are proportional to SSC. The model is calibrated to the observed variation of DO with SSC and temperature. Modeled DO closely tracks changes to the estuarine turbidity zone (ETZ): increased channel depth, decreased freshwater discharge, and decreased …

Structural Basis For Binding Specificity Between Subclasses Of Modular Polyketide Synthase Docking Domains, Tonia Buchholz, Todd W. Geders, Frank E. Bartley Iii, Kevin A. Reynolds, Janet L. Smith, David H. Sherman

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bacterial type I polyketide synthases (PKSs) assemble structurally diverse natural products of significant clinical value from simple metabolic building blocks. The synthesis of these compounds occurs in a processive fashion along a large multiprotein complex. Transfer of the acyl intermediate across interpolypeptide junctions is mediated, at least in large part, by N- and C-terminal docking domains. We report here a comprehensive analysis of the binding affinity and selectivity for the complete set of discrete docking domain pairs in the pikromycin and erythromycin PKS systems. Despite disconnection from their parent module, each cognate pair of docking domains retained exquisite binding selectivity. …

A Photochemically Initiated Chemistry For Coupling Underivatized Carbohydrates To Gold Nanoparticles, Xin Wang, Olof Ramström, Mingdi Yan

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The sensitive optoelectronic properties of metal nanoparticles make nanoparticle-based materials a powerful tool to study fundamental biorecognition processes. Here we present a new and versatile method for coupling underivatized carbohydrates to gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) via the photochemically induced reaction of perfluorophenylazide (PFPA). A one-pot procedure was developed where Au NPs were synthesized and functionalized with PFPA by a ligand-exchange reaction. Carbohydrates were subsequently immobilized on the NPs by a fast light activation. The coupling reaction was efficient, resulting in high coupling yield as well as high ligand surface coverage. A colorimetric system based on the carbohydrate-modified Au NPs was …

Investigating Engagement, Thinking, And Learning Among Culturally Diverse, Urban Sixth Graders Experiencing An Inquiry-Based Science Curriculum, Contextualized In The Local Environment, Sybil Schantz Kelley

Dissertations and Theses

This mixed-methods study combined pragmatism, sociocultural perspectives, and systems thinking concepts to investigate students' engagement, thinking, and learning in science in an urban, K-8 arts, science, and technology magnet school. A grant-funded school-university partnership supported the implementation of an inquiry-based science curriculum, contextualized in the local environment through field experiences. The researcher worked as co-teacher of 3 sixth-grade science classes and was deeply involved in the daily routines of the school.The purposes of the study were to build a deeper understanding of the complex interactions that take place in an urban science classroom, including challenges related to implementing culturally-relevant instruction; …

Classical Search And Quantum Search Algorithms For Synthesis Of Quantum Circuits And Optimization Of Quantum Oracles, Sazzad Hossain

Dissertations and Theses

We observe an enormous increase in the computational power of digital computers. This was due to the revolution in manufacturing processes and controlling semiconductor structures on submicron scale, ultimately leading to the control of individual atoms. Eventually, the classical electric circuits encountered the barrier of quantum mechanics and its effects. However, the laws of quantum mechanics can be also used to produce computational devices that lead to extraordinary speed increases over classical computers. Thus quantum computing becomes a very promising and attractive research area. The Computer Aided Design for Quantum circuits becomes an essential ingredient for such emerging research which …

Squeak By Example, Andrew P. Black, Stéphane Ducasse, Oscar Nierstrasz, Damien Pollet, Damien Cassou, Marcus Denker

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Squeak is a modern open-source development environment for the classic Smalltalk-80 programming language. This book, intended for both students and developers, will guide you gently through the language and tools by means of a series of examples and exercises.

Additional material is available from the book's web page at SqueakByExample.org.

Evaluating Similarity-Based Trace Reduction Techniques For Scalable Performance Analysis, Kathryn Marie Mohror, Karen L. Karavanic

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Event traces are required to correctly diagnose a number of performance problems that arise on today’s highly parallel systems. Unfortunately, the collection of event traces can produce a large volume of data that is difficult, or even impossible, to store and analyze. One approach for compressing a trace is to identify repeating trace patterns and retain only one representative of each pattern. However, determining the similarity of sections of traces, i.e., identifying patterns, is not straightforward. In this paper, we investigate pattern-based methods for reducing traces that will be used for performance analysis. We evaluate the different methods against several …

Finding Irc-Like Meshes Sans Layer 7 Payloads, Akshay Dua, Jim Binkley, Suresh Singh

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present an algorithm for detecting IRC-like chat networks that does not rely on Layer 7 payload information. The goal is to extract only those meshes from conventional flows where long-term periodic data is being exchanged between an external server and multiple internal clients. Flow data is passed through a series of filters that reduce the memory requirements needed for final candidate mesh sorting. Final outputs consist of two sorted lists including the fanout list, sorted by the number of client hosts in the mesh, and a secondary list called the evil sort. The latter consists of meshes with any …

Generation Of Novel Pikromycin Antibiotic Products Through Mutasynthesis, Shuchi Gupta, Venkatraman Lakshmanan, Beom Seok Kim, Robert Fecik, Kevin A. Reynolds

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mutasynthesis in pikromycin PKS: The amenability of pikromycin polyketide synthase to mutational biosynthesis has been demonstrated. A natural triketide and its analogues, activated as N-acetyl-cysteamine thioesters, were synthesized and fed to a pikAI-deleted strain; this led to the production of new antibiotics. A vinyl analogue was found to have better antibacterial activity than pikromycin.

Effect Of The Regiochemistry Of Butyl Amide Substituents On The Solution-State Structures Of Lanthanide(Iii) Dota-Tetraamide Complexes, Tomoyasu Mani, Gyula Tircsó, Piyu Zhao, A. Dean Sherry, Mark Woods

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The coordination geometry adopted by the lanthanide complexes of DOTA-tetraamides is a critical factor in determining their water exchange kinetics. Controlling the water exchange kinetics of DOTA-tetraamide complexes, and by extension their coordination geometry, is of particular interest because of the potential application of this class of complex as PARACEST MRI contrast agents. To facilitate the maximum CEST effect at the lowest pre-saturation powers much slower exchange kinetics are required than are commonly observed with these types of chelates. Complexes that adopt the more slowly exchanging square antiprismatic coordination geometry are therefore preferred; however, the factors that govern which coordination …

Exploring The Ph Dependence Of Viologen Reduction By Alpha-Carbon Radicals Derived From Hcy And Cys, Dong Wang, William E. Crowe, Robert M. Strongin, Martha Sibrian-Vazquez

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

The colorimetric reaction of homocysteine (HCy) with a series of viologen salts suggests a linear correlation between the mid-point reduction potential of Hcy-derived α-carbon radicals and pH.

Optimising The Synthesis And Red–Green–Blue Emission Of A Simple Organic Dye, Martha Sibrian-Vazquez, Robert M. Strongin

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Synthetic dyes have been widely used in supramolecular chemistry not only to probe fundamental chemical interactions but also as components of functional materials. Most current efforts in this regard are directed at designing new host systems for the dyes. Herein we report on the study of a versatile new organic fluorophore. We describe a synthesis which affords improved yields in a convenient one pot procedure. Moreover, a simple method for predicting and controlling the dye’s responses to external stimuli affords a potentially practical method for achieving red–green–blue and concomitant white light generation.

The ‘Benchmark Glacier’ Concept – Does It Work? Lessons From The North Cascade Range, Usa, Andrew G. Fountain, Matthew J. Hoffman, Frank Granshaw, Jon L. Riedel

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Benchmark glaciers were established in many alpine areas during the 1960s as part of the International Hydrological Decade to represent ‘typical’ mass and energy processes on glaciers in different climatic regions around the world. These glaciers have received new interest in the past decade because they are used to infer the contribution of alpine glacier wastage to global sea-level rise. We compare South Cascade Glacier, the benchmark glacier for the northwest contiguous USA, and four other secondary glaciers, against the topographic, area and mass changes of 321 glaciers in the surrounding region. Results show that South Cascade Glacier is unusually …

Surface Energy Balance And Melt Thresholds Over 11 Years At Taylor Glacier, Antarctica, Matthew James Hoffman, Andrew G. Fountain, Glen E. Liston

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Victoria Land, Antarctica, melting of glacial ice is the primary source of water to streams, lakes, and associated ecosystems. To understand geochemical fluxes and ecological responses to past and future climates requires a physically based energy balance model. We applied a one-dimensional model to one site on Taylor Glacier using 11 years of daily meteorological data and seasonal ablation measurements. Inclusion of transmission of solar radiation into the ice was necessary to accurately model summer ablation and ice temperatures. Results showed good correspondence between calculated and measured ablation and ice temperatures over the 11 years. …

Alagnak Wild River Visitor Use Project: Alagnak Wild River Resident User Study, Douglas Deur

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report represents a thematic summary of findings from the Alagnak Wild River Resident Users Study, the final project in a larger series of studies conducted for the National Park Service (NPS) as part of the Alagnak Wild River Visitor Use Project. The National Park service administers the 56 miles of designated Wild River along the Alagnak in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, which manages fish and wildlife populations along the river. The NPS is charged with managing the river’s natural and cultural resources, as well as preserving the river’s lands and resources for current and …

The Effect Of The Amide Substituent On The Biodistribution And Tolerance Of Lanthanide(Iii) Dota-Tetraamide Derivatives, Mark Woods, Peter Caravan, Carlos F.G.C. Geraldes, Matthew T. Greenfield, Garry Kiefer, Mai Lin, Kenneth Mcmillan, M. Isabel M. Prata, Ana C. Santos, Xiankai Sun, Jufeng Wang, Shanrong Zhang, Piyu Zhao, A. Dean Sherry

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objectives—Recent advances in the design of MRI contrast agents have rendered the lanthanide complexes of DOTA-tetraamide ligands of considerable interest, both as responsive MR agents and paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer agents. The potential utility of these complexes for in vivo applications is contingent upon them being well tolerated by the body. The purpose of this study was to examine how the nature of the amide substituent, and in particular its charge, affected the fate of these chelates postinjection.

Materials and Methods—Complexes of 6 DOTA-tetraamide ligands were prepared in which the nature of the amide substituent was systematically …

The Distribution And Reproductive Success Of The Western Snowy Plover Along The Oregon Coast - 2008, David J. Lauten, Kathleen J. Castelein, David C. Bailey, Travis Lewis, Eleanor P. Gaines

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

From 1 April – 24 September 2008, we monitored the distribution, abundance and productivity of the federally Threatened Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) along the Oregon coast. From north to south, we surveyed and monitored plover activity at Sutton Beach, Siltcoos River estuary, the Dunes Overlook, North Tahkenitch Creek, Tenmile Creek, Coos Bay North Spit, Bandon Beach, and New River. Our objectives for the Oregon coastal population in 2008 were to: 1) estimate the size of the adult Snowy Plover population, 2) locate plover nests, 3) continue selected use of miniexclosures (MEs) to protect nests from predators …

General Validity Of Reciprocity In Quantum Mechanics, P.T. Leung, H. Y. Xie, D. P. Tsai

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The concept of reciprocity symmetry for matter-wave propagation is established for nonrelativistic quantum mechanics with previous results in the literature extended to include nonlocal interactions. Examples are given for cases with both local and nonlocal potentials, where we show in particular that reciprocity can be violated for the motion of a charged particle in an external electromagnetic field. In addition, this symmetry is applied to interpret a recent analysis [Phys. Rev. A 64, 042716 (2001)] on the symmetry of transmission through one-dimensional complex potentials, with the emphasis that the validity of reciprocity can go beyond that of time-reversal symmetry, such …

Using Archived Its Data To Measure The Operational Benefits Of A System-Wide Adaptive Ramp Metering System, Robert L. Bertini, Christopher Monsere, Oren Eshel, Soyoung Ahn

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A System-Wide Adaptive Ramp Metering (SWARM) system has been implemented in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, replacing the previous pre-timed ramp-metering system that had been in operation since 1981. SWARM has been deployed on six major corridors and operates during the morning and afternoon peak hours. This report presents results of a "before" and "after" evaluation of the performance of two freeway corridors as part of ongoing efforts to measure the benefits of the new SWARM system, as compared to the pre-timed system. The study benefited from using the existing regional data, surveillance and communications infrastructure in addition to a …

Graphical User Interfaces As Updatable Views, James Felger Terwilliger

Dissertations and Theses

In contrast to a traditional setting where users express queries against the database schema, we assert that the semantics of data can often be understood by viewing the data in the context of the user interface (UI) of the software tool used to enter the data. That is, we believe that users will understand the data in a database by seeing the labels, dropdown menus, tool tips, help text, control contents, and juxtaposition or arrangement of controls that are built in to the user interface. Our goal is to allow domain experts with little technical skill to understand and query …

The Portland Spectator, November 2008, Portland State University. Student Publications Board

Portland Spectator

Editor: Sarah J. Christensen

Articles in this issue include: An interview with Charles Lewis; National Decrease in Higher Education Funding Reflected At PSU; Pursuing Sustainability at Portland State; Abortion and Roe v. Wade; Accidental Feminist; and Freedom Divided: Understanding Political Orientation