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Design And Implementation Of Error Estimators For Finite Element Eigenvalue Problems, Gabriel Esteban Pinochet Soto

Dissertations and Theses

We present three publications, all encompassed under the umbrella of a posteriori error estimation theory for eigenvalue problems for finite element discretizations. The central objective of the research is the development of a general framework for the study of reliable estimation of eigenvalues and eigenspaces. We introduce applications to problems of theoretical interest as well as problems arising in real-life scenarios, such as optical fibers. The first paper focuses on the implementation of a dual-weighted residual error estimator for a nonselfadjoint eigenvalue problems arising from the study of leaky modes in optical fibers---Maxwell's equations, Perfectly Matched Layers, and a conforming …

Guilty Plea Appeals Across Two States: Who Appeals And Who Wins?, Jacqueline G. Lee, Kelsey S. Henderson, Mason Scott

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Though the vast majority of criminal convictions stem from guilty pleas, what occurs after the plea is relatively unknown. Data on appeals of guilty pleas was collected from two states to explore the prevalence and outcomes of guilty plea appeals, in addition to characteristics of those cases. One state produced approximately 5.5 times more plea appeal opinions per month than the other. Interestingly, one state's appeals largely centered around excessive sentencing claims (73.6%), while the other saw a range of grounds (e.g., ineffective assistance of counsel). Appealing defendants in one state almost always lost (only a 2% likelihood of success), …

Disparities Between Rural And Urban Patients With Epilepsy In Oregon From Time Of Seizure Onset To Genetic Testing And Surgical Treatment, Bahar Madani

University Honors Theses

Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is associated with significant morbidity and worsened outcomes when access to specialized epilepsy care is delayed. Rural populations may face additional barriers to neurological evaluation, genetic testing, and epilepsy surgery due to geographic and healthcare access limitations. This retrospective cohort study evaluated disparities in epilepsy care timelines among rural and urban patients treated at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), one of Oregon's two Level 4 epilepsy centers. Electronic health record data were reviewed for 110 patients, including 80 urban and 30 rural patients. Variables included age at seizure onset, age at genetic testing, age at epilepsy …

Local And Indigenous Knowledge, Innovation, And Sustainable Development: Creating Sustainable Futures Amidst Crisis Conditions At The Community Level, Carlos Andrés Arias

Dissertations and Theses

In 1987, the Brundtland Commission's Our Common Future (1987) made clear the need to reject longstanding development processes and focus on sustainable development. The Commission stressed that actual sustainable development integrates three elements: social development, economic development, and environmental protection. Though developed nations have achieved economic growth through conventional and extractive development practices, these practices have intensified natural disasters driven by climate change, increased food insecurity, and deepened poverty. This has acutely impacted Indigenous and local communities, many of whom face crisis conditions, such as war, terrorism, civil disorder, and their aftermath. Even so, many of these communities successfully implement …

Haapxtàm Ka'Ál Yimisapʰíkʰ We Dream For Our Children Indigenous Pedagogies In Early Childhood Education: Survivance, Truth Telling, And Healing On Native Land, Sara Anne Koyano

Dissertations and Theses

Since Time Immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have lived, learned, and thrived on this continent, exercising their inherent sovereignty as Original Peoples and passing down Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and learning across generations. US settler colonial violence and assimilation policies have had historical and contemporary detrimental impacts on Native children, families, and communities by attempting to disrupt the intergenerational transmission of Indigenous knowledges. Consequently, many young Native children in Oregon do not have access to educational opportunities that value, honor, and affirm their Indigenous identities and cultures, nor do they see themselves reflected in their classrooms and curricula. Furthermore, in 2019, …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Wiens' Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium Abietinum Ssp. Wiensii), Lindsey K. Wise

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Wiens' dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium abietinum ssp. wiensii) using NatureServe methodology, 2026.

Ballots And Beliefs: Diverging Views On Election Integrity From The Public And Officials, Anita Manion, David C. Kimball, Paul Manson, Paul Gronke, Joseph Anthony

Center for Public Service Publications and Reports

Public opinion about election integrity and election administration is frequently cited in policy debates in the United States. Due to their role in administering elections, local election officials (LEOs) provide an authoritative voice on election-related matters. Yet it remains unclear whether differences between LEO and public opinion reflect compositional differences between these groups or fundamentally distinct ways of evaluating election integrity and reform. We compare the main predictors of opinions about election administration for LEOs and the public in the United States on election integrity, voting values, and election reforms using national surveys from 2020 and 2024. We find that …

Ecological Drift And Host Filtering Jointly Structure Foliar Endophytes During Ecosystem Development., Caio César Pires De Paula, Petr Macek, Milan Varsadiya, Jakub Borovec, Mehmet A. Balkan, Brett S. Younginger, Daniel J. Ballhorn, Tomáš Picek, Tomáš Hájek, Jan Frouz, Jiří Bárta, Dagmara Sirová

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Foliar endophytes contribute to plant nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and pathogen resistance, yet their responses to ecosystem-level processes remain poorly understood. Using a space-for-time substitution design, we investigated bacterial and fungal community dynamics in the foliar endosphere of four phylogenetically distinct plant hosts across a well-characterized successional chronosequence.

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Bedstraw Broomrape (Aphyllon Epigalium Ssp. Epigalium), Lindsey K. Wise

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Bedstraw broomrape (Aphyllon epigalium ssp. epigalium) using NatureServe methodology, 2026.

Cross-Sectoral Collaborations And Funding And Coordination Mechanisms In One Health Zoonoses Management In Peru, Lisset Dumet Poma, Erin S. Kenzie, Julia Goodman, Veronika Merino, Vanessa Cruz, Ruth Atto, Percy Vilchez, Seth O’Neal

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

One Health (OH) is a comprehensive approach that recognizes the human-animal-environment interconnection to health and is applied to prevent and control zoonoses—diseases transmitted between animals and people. Using a multiple-method case study, we examined zoonoses networks, resource management mechanisms, and coordination strategies among policymakers and decision-makers of Peru’s human, agricultural, and environmental systems at national and sub-national levels. Social network analysis revealed collaborations between the human and agricultural systems, with limited connection with environmental systems. Only a few links were reported between national and sub-national government levels. Qualitative analysis identified structural barriers, including insufficient regulatory mechanisms for funding cross-sectoral activities. …

Practice Research In Social Work-Participation, Co-Creation, And Service Users' Positions: Introduction To The Articles From The Sixth International Conference On Practice Research, Bowen Mcbeath, Sui Ting Kong, Lars Uggerhoj

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose

This special issue examines practice research in social work, focusing on participation, co-creation, and service users’ positions in knowledge production and utilization. Practice research is advanced as a collaborative, context-sensitive approach that challenges hierarchical models of evidence and foregrounds co-produced knowledge.

Method

Drawing on the Sixth International Conference on Practice Research at Aalborg University, Denmark, the 11 special issue articles explore service user involvement, positionality, and organizational conditions shaping inquiry.

Results

The introduction synthesizes cross-cutting themes from the articles into an integrative framework linking epistemic justice, co-methodologies, and institutional supports for co-learning and improvements in practices, structures, and policies. …

Crossing Boundaries: Brachinites And Their Diverse Asteroidal Origins, B. G. Rider-Stokes, F. A. Davies, T. H. Burbine, E. Maclennan, R. C. Greenwood, S. L. Jackson, M. Anand, Daniel Sheikh, M. M. Grady

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Brachinite meteorites are typically linked to the olivine-rich A-type asteroids. In this study, however, they appear to exhibit unexpected spectral diversity. Spectroscopic analysis of seven meteorites from the brachinite clan reveals two distinct populations in band parameters, overlapping with both the A-type and S-complex asteroids. This dual association shows that a single meteorite group can originate from multiple asteroid taxonomies. Notably, one S-complex-like specimen, Northwest Africa (NWA) 14,635, displays band parameters similar to those of asteroid (65803) Didymos, the target of the European Space Agency's (ESA) ongoing Hera mission. These results underscore the value of spectroscopic characterization of poorly understood …

A Plague On Both Your Houses: Archetypes Of Political Choice, Martin Zwick

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

In times of political polarization, we are well-advised to heed Spinoza’s injunction, “Not to lament, not to curse, but to understand.” Understanding can be facilitated by ideas about the archetypal structures of political choice. This paper offers a systems theoretic analysis of a set of such archetypes focusing solely on their structures and not advocating any specific political positions. The primary question that must be answered is whether available or desirable political choices are dyadic or triadic, and if dyadic, whether the two alternatives of the dyad should be viewed as good versus bad or as complementary.  Various modes of …

Blueprints Of City Planning: How Function And Symbolism Have Shaped Our Cities, Elinor J. Stoll

Young Historians Conference

Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. While that wasn’t always the case, cities have existed for millennia, and humans have been planning them for just as long. This paper examines the history of urban planning, from the Indus Valley civilization to Washington DC and New Orleans, into the future of planned cities like the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia. It examines the commonalities between cities across time and establishes a timeline of the emergence of different patterns in city planning history. Among the examples discussed are the Indus Valley civilization, the Ancient Greek city of …

Golden Age Or Gilded Cage? The Rise And Dissolution Of The Olympic Art Competitions, 1912–1948, Stella E. Gatziolis

Young Historians Conference

In 1912, Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s modern day Olympics celebrated not only its five year anniversary, but the first inclusion of the Olympic Art Competitions. Resembling a neo-Renaissance, Coubertin envisioned a “balance of the muscle and the mind” through the unity of the physical and intellectual. But by 1948, the art competitions had collapsed, leaving the social experiment to be forgotten by future generations. Drawing upon personal testimony from Coubertin and his loyal successors, and records from the International Olympic Committee, this paper explores how Coubertin’s extreme dedication to a pure and sanctified Neoclassical ideal led to the art competition’s …

Nation-Building On Pillars Of Fascism: How Italian Fascist Ideals Have Remained Alive In Eritrean Identity Through The Asmaran Urban Landscape, Caspian Green

Young Historians Conference

Roughly a third of Eritrea’s time as an Italian colony was spent under fascist rule, during which the Italian colonists dramatically changed the Asmaran urban environment, as well as its relationship with the rest of the Eritrean colony, to reflect fascist principles. After the fall of the Italian colonial empire, Eritrean political leaders sought to use the physical landscape to justify their claims to sovereignty, reapplying those pre-existing fascist principles to Eritrean nationalism. By examining Italian-Asmaran buildings, roads, and legal structures in their contexts, common threads between past fascist beliefs and the modern Eritrean military state emerge, offering a better …

Little Africa In Global China: Transnational Nigerians In Guangzhou And The Making Of Xiaobei, Tess L. Nestel

Young Historians Conference

This paper will examine the history and development of transnationalism fostered by Nigerians in Guangzhou, China, after the late 1990s. Spurred in part by the Asian Financial Crisis, Nigerian men flocked to Guangzhou’s thriving import-export economy. They established the ethnic enclave of Xiaobei, where many lived and engaged in the informal wholesale economy. Nigerians existed between the cultural boundaries of Xiaobei and Lagos, where they constantly returned. Both the export economy in Guangzhou and the resale economy in Lagos’ street markets were deeply influenced by one another through entrepreneurial migrants. This paper will provide a general overview of the many …

From Mogadishu To Minneapolis: Transnational Political And Social Ties In The Somali Diaspora, Kate E. Mcfarland

Young Historians Conference

Beginning in the 1980s, Somalis have fled Somalia in order to escape persecution and political violence, find new economic opportunities, and achieve a better life. One major destination of these migrants is Minneapolis, Minnesota, which is now home to over 80,000 Somalis, making up 18% of Minneapolis’ population. Due to this sizable Somali enclave, Minneapolis and Somalia have created and maintained a transnational relationship. This paper examines that relationship, focusing on the causes of the Somali diaspora, evidence of transnational connections (such as remittances, cultural exchange, and political effects), and the challenges that threaten this tie. Understanding this relationship is …

The Prominent Voice Of Cold War Era Radio: The 1968 Soviet Union Invasion Of Czechoslovakia, Zuzana E. Langer

Young Historians Conference

This paper explores the influence of radio and free press during the Prague Spring and subsequent Soviet Union invasion of Czechoslovakia during the Cold War. After the Prague Spring, a brief period of growing freedom stemming from Alexander Dubček’s transition out of strict socialist censorship, the Soviet Union orchestrated a military invasion of the socialist satellite state. During this invasion, radio transmitters in Prague informed listeners that the invasion was against the Czechoslovak’s government’s will and instructed Czech and Slovak citizens to remain calm and protest nonviolently. By analyzing the emergence of the free press from the Prague Spring and …

The Great Plague Of Marseille, Lucy Herzig

Young Historians Conference

This paper examines the causes and consequences of the Great Plague of Marseille (1720-1722), which was one of Western Europe's last major outbreaks of the bubonic plague. Although European port cities had developed quarantine systems to prevent epidemics, Marseille’s outbreak revealed how these protections failed in practice. This paper argues that the plague became so devastating not because of a lack of institutional systems, but due to fragmented local authority, delayed government intervention, and the prioritization of economic interests over public health. Focusing on the arrival of the merchant ship Grand-Saint-Antoine, this paper analyzes how merchant elites influenced quarantine decisions, …

Artificial Light: A Conduit Of Human Productivity Through The Ages, Elias M. Henkle

Young Historians Conference

This paper takes a sharp look at three innovations in artificial light, examining their impact on human productivity through history, and on our global society today. It posits that light technology has played a pivotal role in human productivity. From conversation around campfires, to handheld lighting technologies (such as candles, oil lamps, and other such crude— yet compact— lighting devices), to fiber-optic cables that carry information across oceans through the power of light— humanity’s productivity has been massively impacted by innovations in light technology.

Rhetoric, Shakespeare, And Tony Soprano: The Influence Of Suetonius's The Life Of Julius Caesar In Personalizing The Leader, Eben N. Cole

Young Historians Conference

History has presented a group of leaders who have been frequently studied and written about; Julius Caesar is among these leaders. The common historical narrative which examines his life has brought particular attention to not only Julius Caesar's leadership, but also Caesar as an individual. During the 2nd century CE, in Ancient Rome, the writer Suetonius published his 12 Caesars, a collection of biographies that included Suetonius's biography of Julius Caesar. Throughout the 12 Caesars, Suetonius would depict his subjects in a manner that was less factual than other biographies which preceded his, yet the 12 Caesars became more influential …

Subversive Shooting: How Annie Oakley Rose To Nationwide Notoriety, Sycan I. Jones

Young Historians Conference

Annie Oakley was a famous female sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show for over 16 years. Despite being a woman in a largely male-dominated profession, she became a nationwide sensation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, outpacing other female shooters who followed her example. This paper seeks to analyze how specific attributes of Oakley’s feminine persona supported her unprecedented success amidst changing cultural values. Photos and videos of Oakley and secondary scholarship focused on Oakley’s role in western expansion reveal how Oakley leveraged her femininity to create a name for herself and took advantage of burgeoning new …

Revolutionary Resistance In Denmark: The Impact Of Grundtvigism On The Danish Resistance To Nazi Occupation, Holland Burd

Young Historians Conference

This paper examines the impact of nineteenth century philosopher and theologian Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig on the Danish resistance during World War II. Born in 1783, Grundtvig established a framework that paved the way for Danish national pride, setting the stage for a united resistance effort against Nazi occupation in October of 1943. His beliefs inspired movement towards the common good and allowed the Danes to reconnect with their cultural identity. Nazi Germany invaded Denmark in 1940, initially preserving an image of peace through a model protectorate. However, the image of peace was destroyed in 1943 after Nazi Germany ordered …

Catholic Syncretism: A Framework For Understanding Post-Colonial Religious Identity, James A. Hennessey-O'Connor

Young Historians Conference

Syncretic Catholicism, the blending of Catholic Christianity with Indigenous, African, and other pre-existing belief systems, represents a recurring and globally consistent pattern of religious adaptation arising from colonial encounters. This essay examines syncretic Catholic traditions across three regions: Latin America, Asia, and North America. In Latin America, where Spanish and Portuguese colonization imposed Christianity through force, syncretism functioned as a strategy of cultural survival. In Asia, where early Catholic missions relied more on persuasion than conquest, syncretism relied on voluntary negotiation and creative religious blending, producing hybrid traditions. In North America, African-derived traditions demonstrate that syncretic adaptation operated as a …

Heavenly Righteousness: How Religion Facilitated The Rise Of The Order Of The Knights Templar, Morgan M. Henderson

Young Historians Conference

The Order of the Knights of the Temple of Solomon, commonly known as the Knights Templar, was a critical organization in the Christian occupation of the Holy Land during the 11th to 14th centuries. This paper explores how the Templars’ relationship with the papacy and the Catholic Church enabled the order to amass its power. Through its doctrine, papal grants, and founding council, the Templars structured their order to be a military force used to attack the Muslim infidel. Religion was the unique element that enabled the Knights Templar to become the most significant military order of their time, greatly …

The Revolutionaries Of Mt. Tabor: Religion, Radicalism, And Propaganda Of The Taborites In Hussite Bohemia, India L. Black-Mitchell

Young Historians Conference

This paper explores the formation of the radical Hussite group, the Taborites, in fifteenth century Bohemia, and their eventual decline and absorption into other religious groups. Tabor was founded in the rural countryside of Bohemia, populated by an impoverished working class, Under the leadership of Jan Zizka, and the influence of Jan Hus and Bishop Nicholas Biskupec of Pelhrimov, Tabor was able to establish itself as a highly successful military and religious force despite the opposition of the powerful Catholic Church. Tabor promoted literacy in the Bible to its working class members, including women, which set them apart from their …

36th Annual Young Historians Conference Program, Portland State University History Department, Portland State University Challenge Program

Young Historians Conference

This is the 2026 Young Historians Conference schedule and abstracts.

Administrative Burdens In Post-Filing Eviction Prevention Programs: Focusing On Oregon's Safe Harbor Policy, Minji Cho

Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative Publications and Presentations

This study examines the administrative burdens faced by tenants in post-filing eviction prevention programs, focusing on Oregon’s Safe Harbor Policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Safe Harbor, paired with the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program, aimed to prevent tenants from being evicted while waiting for rental assistance applications to be processed and for the monies to be disbursed, by inserting a long pause in the otherwise short eviction process. Despite its novelty, tenants in post-filing eviction stages faced challenges with tight timelines and navigating both eviction proceedings and ERA applications. This study demonstrates the administrative burden tenants experienced when securing Safe …

Disrupting The Link Between Exposure To Violence And Adolescent Delinquency: The Protective Role Of Expectations About The Future, Eunbyeor Sophie Yang, Seohyun Kim, Su-Kyung Oh, Hyeyoung Kang, Ick-Joong Chung

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Exposure to violence significantly influences adolescent delinquency, posing a critical public health concern. We examine the moderating role of expectations about the future in this context, particularly whether their impact differs between minor and severe delinquency. Analyzing data from the fifth wave of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (n=1,272), we employed hierarchical linear regression and the PROCESS macro. Our findings reveal that exposure to violence is positively associated with delinquency; meanwhile, expectations about the future are negatively associated with adolescent delinquency. Positive expectations about the future significantly mitigate the impact of exposure to violence on adolescent delinquency …