Digital Commons Network^™

American Institution Of Public, K-12 Education: An Institutional Field Under A Complexity Paradigm, Jennifer Jean Joyalle

Dissertations and Theses

Institutional fields serve as foundational bedrocks that shape and govern behaviors, norms, and practices within distinct domains of societal and organizational interactions. The emergence of machine learning and the ability to manipulate large datasets offer researchers and decision makers the potential ability to model and visualize the behavior associated with institutional fields.

This proof of concept provides an example of visualizing the changing conditions in the institutional field of public K-12 education in America as a topology. By interweaving three primary strands of theory -- institutional fields, complexity in the guise of complex adaptive systems as a paradigm, and paradigms …

Reconstructing Modis Aerosol Optical Depth And Exploring Dynamic And Influential Factors Of Aod Via Random Forest At The Global Scale, Bin Guo, Zheng Wang, Lin Pei, Xiaowei Zhu, Qiuji Chen, Haojie Wu, Wencai Zhang, Dingming Zhang

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Aerosols pose a significant impact on the atmospheric environment and public health. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) is one of the essential parameters for quantifying aerosols. Currently, existing AOD products suffer from severe pixel value missing issue due to clouds and other interferences globally, which severely affects the accuracy of fine particulate matter estimation and related epidemics researches. At the global scale, this study first adopted population as one of the influencing factors of AOD, and fully considered the effects of humidity, surface pressure, cloud cover, and evapotranspiration on AOD. Meanwhile, the spatiotemporal resolution of meteorological data was promoted to improve …

Floating Wind Farm Experiments Through Scaling For Wake Characterization, Power Extraction, And Turbine Dynamics, Juliaan Bossuyt, OndˇRej FercˇÁk, Zein Sadek, Charles Meneveau, Dennice Gayme, Raúl Bayoán Cal

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this study, wind and water tunnel experiments of turbulent wakes in a scaled floating wind farm are performed. Scaling of a floating wind farm with a scaling ratio of 1:400 is made possible by relaxing geometric scaling of the turbine platform system, such that the dynamic response can be correctly matched, and to allow for relaxing Froude scaling such that the Reynolds number can be kept large enough. Four dimensionless parameters, describing the relative importance of wind and wave loads compared to turbine inertia, are used to guide the scaled floater design. Free decay tests of the pitch and …

Information Literacy In English-Language Higher Education Teaching Journals: A Review, Jennifer Masunaga, Lanyi Peng, Tiffanie Ford-Baxter, Kendall Faulkner

Communications in Information Literacy

Wider visibility of information literacy (IL) outside of the library and information science (LIS) field is important to the success of IL instruction, learning, and research. The development and major updates of several information literacy documents in the past decade evidence the changing landscape of IL research, but how these changes have impacted other disciplines remains to be seen. To aid in this discussion, this article examines a wide range of higher education teaching journals to expand on Badke's (2011) work, “Why Information Literacy is Invisible.” Specifically, this study examines articles published in 30 general higher education and 32 …

Quality Matters: Using A Peer-Review Process To Create A Cohesive Multi-Campus Library Online Instruction Program, Stephanie Jacobs, Maryellen Nash, Theresa Burress, Kaya Van Beynen

Communications in Information Literacy

Librarians within a newly combined, multi-campus research and instruction department undertook a large-scale peer review of their online instruction program and materials. This collaborative assessment project sought to unite three library departments with a cohesive vision for self-guided online library instruction while establishing consistent quality standards and building a shared sense of ownership and accomplishment. These goals were achieved through a collaborative assessment of online instructional modules that included the development of a novel rubric based on the Quality Matters Course Design Standards. This article reports on that ongoing journey, as well as the goals, challenges, and outcomes of the …

Truth Or Consequences: Academic Instruction Librarians As Information Literacy And Critical Thinking Activists, Laureen P. Cantwell-Jurkovic, Heather F. Ball

Communications in Information Literacy

The graphic edition of Snyder’s On Tyranny (2021) states "truth dies in four modes," which is a contemporary synthesis connected to Klemperer's Language of the Third Reich (1957). The researchers connected these four modes to information literacy (IL) instruction—but would others? The researchers surveyed academic librarians engaged in IL instruction on whether they felt they addressed any of the modes in their work. The researchers also asked whether they believe the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education works to circumvent any of the four modes. Nearly 150 librarians responded and, while most respondents were unfamiliar with the two …

Impact Of Library Instruction Tutorial Format On Student Preference And Performance In First-Year Chemistry, Tara Stieglitz, Lindsey Whitson

Communications in Information Literacy

This research study investigates the effects of library instruction tutorial format (written versus video) on student preference and performance in chemistry education. The authors assessed the format of tutorials used to provide library instruction in an introductory chemistry course by observing 27 student participants as they took in instructions in either a video or a written format and then completed two chemistry information tasks. While participants expressed strong preferences for particular formats, neither the video tutorials nor the written instructions significantly improved task completion speed or performance. Rather, the authors determined that student preference alone is enough to justify the …

Fintech And Entrepreneurship: An Assessment Model To Evaluate Policy Instruments For Fintech Adoption By Small And Medium Enterprises (Smes), Deemah Abdullah Alassaf

Dissertations and Theses

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the engines that drive economic development. They are the backbone of the middle class as they provide social stability, innovation, inclusive growth, and poverty alleviation. SMEs contribute significantly to job creation, employment, tax provision and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, they face inferior conditions and challenges when it comes to their financing compared to that of large enterprises, as well as having a high expectancy of failing. Because of these limitations, SMEs tend to grow slowly since building up higher credit is difficult for them, and in addition to this, they lack access …

Examining Policy Innovation Process And The Roles Of Policy Entrepreneurs: A Case Of Smart City Initiative In Khon Kaen, Thailand, Thitisak Duadsuntia

Dissertations and Theses

Innovation is a necessary process for public sector organizations and governments to adapt to social and economic changes. Innovation helps governments improve public service performance and address wicked challenges. Although the significance of public sector innovation has long been realized, how it occurs, and how it is influenced by contextual factors is not well explored. Particularly, policy innovation that emerges in an open and dynamic social system is understudied. Policy entrepreneurs mobilize policy change in their social systems, but their roles in a public sector innovation process still needs further investigation.

This study explores the policy innovation process and explicates …

How Are Oregon's Rural Indigenous Communities Overcoming Water Access Issues?, Tyren John Thompson

Dissertations and Theses

This study investigates how water insecurity affects Indigenous communities in Grand Ronde, Warm Springs, and Umatilla, Oregon, through loss of clean drinking water, access to culturally significant foods, and exposure to pollution. Each community offers innovative solutions drawing on their Indigenous knowledge to overcome water supply challenges. Communities with more resources are better equipped to cope with water insecurity and environmental degradation.

Assessment Of The Omni-Channel Adoption For The Management Of Emergence Technologies In Food Retailing During And After The Era Of Covid-19, Esraa Bukhari

Dissertations and Theses

Using E-commerce has become crucial for retailers, specifically in the food business; the Food industry is one of the essential drivers of economies in the world. In and after the era of COVID-19, as technology advances, there is a need to apply an omnichannel strategy. In response, this research aims to develop a decision focus assessing Omni-channeled adoption for the management of emerging technologies in food retailing during and after the era of COVID-19 to evaluate the omnichannel capabilities of food organizations. This establishes a decision model to fill the research gap to succeed and stay competitive in the food …

Biological Nitrogen And Phosphorus Removal From Wastewater Under Low Dissolved Oxygen (Ldo) Conditions, Bashar Al-Daomi

Dissertations and Theses

This study examines the complexities of the integration of different technologies for nutrient removal, investigating parameters like sludge residence time (SRT), carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, Anaerobic/Oxic (A/O), and Anaerobic/Oxic/Anoxic (A/O/A) systems, continuous and intermittent aeration regimes, and air OFF/air ON periods ratios for efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal.

Two continuous aeration systems were implemented: The first aimed to carry out a simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SNdN) process for nitrogen and phosphorus removal under low dissolved oxygen (DO) and C/N ratio conditions. This system operated with 4.5-5-day total sludge age in a single-stage anaerobic/oxic (A/O)-SBR, performing stepwise DO reduction at varying DO …

Tiny Drifters Amidst Global Change: Examining Environmental Drivers, Trophic Impacts, And Management Strategies Of Estuarine Plankton Communities In The Anthropocene, Taylor Nicole Dodrill

Dissertations and Theses

Plankton productivity supports estuarine food webs, and has been tied to the success of fisheries, macroinvertebrates, and cultured shellfish yields. Climate change and alterations to nutrient loads are thought to be influencing plankton assemblages, with toxin-producing harmful algal blooms (HABs) on the rise and nutritional quality of plankton declining globally. These shifts in plankton communities may contribute to low biomass yields and toxin-based closures of important fisheries. The objectives of this dissertation are to identify environmental drivers, trophic impacts, and management strategies to understand and respond to changing estuarine plankton communities. To address these objectives, I used a combination of …

Faculty Senate Monthly Packet December 2023, Portland State University Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Monthly Packets

The December 4, 2023 monthly packet includes the December agenda, appendices, and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held December 4, 2023.

Impact Of Material And Tunnel Barrier Quality On Spin Transport In A Cvd Graphene Non-Local Spin Valve Device Array, Samuel T. Olson, Daniel Still, Kaleb Hood, Otto Zietz, Jun Jiao

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wafer-scale graphene films produced via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are now commercially available, however these films inherently contain randomly distributed defects such as adlayers and grain boundaries. This report discusses the impact of these defects on the signal integrity of an array of graphene-based non-local spin valves (NLSVs). It was found that critical spin parameters fluctuate drastically between adjacent identical devices. Investigation of the channel quality indicated that adlayers do not affect spin signal significantly even when located directly in the spin transport region of the device. In contrast, grain boundary defects within the spin transport region have significant impact …

Quantum Algorithms For Unate And Binate Covering Problems With Application To Finite State Machine Minimization, Abdirahman Alasow, Marek Perkowski

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Covering problems find applications in many areas of computer science and engineering, such that numerous combinatorial problems can be formulated as covering problems. Combinatorial optimization problems are generally NPhard problems that require an extensive search to find the optimal solution. Exploiting the benefits of quantum computing, we present a quantum oracle design for covering problems, taking advantage of Grover’s search algorithm to achieve quadratic speedup. This paper also discusses applications of the quantum counter in unate covering problems and binate covering problems with some important practical applications, such as finding prime implicants of a Boolean function, implication graphs, and minimization …

Material And Physical Reservoir Computing For Beyond Cmos Electronics: Quo Vadis?, Christof Teuscher

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Traditional computing is based on an engineering approach that imposes logical states and a computational model upon a physical substrate. Physical or material computing, on the other hand, harnesses and exploits the inherent, naturally-occurring properties of a physical substrate to perform a computation. To do so, reservoir computing is often used as a computing paradigm. In this review and position paper, we take stock of where the field currently stands, delineate opportunities and challenges for future research, and outline steps on how to get material reservoir to the next level. The findings are relevant for beyond CMOS and beyond von …

Chemical Strategies To Mitigate Electrostatic Charging During Coffee Grinding, Joshua Méndez Harper, Christopher H. Hendon

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The process of grinding coffee generates particles with high levels of electrostatic charge, causing a number of detrimental effects including clumping, particle dispersal, and spark discharge. At the brewing level, electrostatic aggregation between particles affects liquid-solid accessibility, leading to variable extraction quality. In this study, we quantify the effectiveness of four charge mitigation strategies. Our data suggests that adding small amounts of water to whole beans pre-grinding, or bombarding the grounds with ions produced from a high-voltage ionizer, are capable of de-electrifying the granular flows. While these techniques helped reduce visible mess, only the static reduction through water inclusion was …

The Distribution And Reproductive Success Of The Western Snowy Plover Along The Central And Southern Oregon Coast - 2023, David J. Lauten, Kathleen A. Castelein, Mary Lee, Jacey Corrente, Marty R. Mccamant, Eleanor P. Gaines

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

We monitored the distribution, abundance and productivity of the federally threatened Western Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus nivosus) along the central and south coast of Oregon from 4 April – 15 September 2023. We surveyed and monitored plover activity in a project area that included, from north to south, Sutton Beach, Siltcoos River estuary, the Dunes Overlook, North Tahkenitch Creek, Tenmile Creek, Coos Bay North Spit, Bandon Snowy Plover Management Area, New River Habitat Restoration Area (HRA) and adjacent lands, and Floras Lake. Our objectives for the project area in 2023 were to: 1) estimate the size of the adult Snowy …

An Exploration Of Two Information Literacy Open Learning Object Repositories: Value, Content, And Engagement, Tiffanie Lynn Ford-Baxter

Communications in Information Literacy

Information literacy (IL) open learning object repositories (LORs) provide a space for librarians to find and exchange instruction resources and lessons. Given many librarians enter the workforce with little or no formal training or educational opportunities to learn about pedagogy, these repositories are indispensable resources to the Library and Information Science field. This study explored the contents of two popular IL LORs, Project Cora and the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy Sandbox, to uncover how users engage with the resources and how the repositories differ. This study's findings suggest that while resources within the LORs …

Coastal Wetland Restoration Through The Lens Of Odum's Theory Of Ecosystem Development, Friedrich W. Keppeler, Annette S. Engel, Linda M. Hooper-Bùi, Paola C. López-Duarte, Charles W. Martin, Jill A. Olin, Katelyn J. Lamb, Michael J. Polito, Nancy N. Rabalais, Multiple Additional Authors

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Advancing ecological restoration assessments requires a more detailed consideration of species interactions and ecosystem processes. Most restoration projects rely on a few metrics not always directly linked with ecological theory. Here, we used Odum's theory of ecosystem development to assess and compare the ecosystem structure and services of created marshes (4–6 years old) with preexisting, reference marshes in a brackish water region of the Mississippi River Delta. We built ecosystem models for created and reference marshes that integrated large datasets of stomach contents, stable isotopes, and taxa abundances. Despite strong resemblance in community structure, created marshes were at an earlier …

Raps Sheet, December 2023, Retirement Association Of Portland State

RAPS Sheet: Monthly Newsletter

No abstract provided.

A Capstone Journey In Enterprise Software Consulting For Microsoft: How An Interdisciplinary Philosophy Fosters Critical Thinking And Promotes Cross-Functional Teamwork, Jacob Mccall

University Honors Theses

This capstone review thesis explores the application of strategic innovation and enterprise software with a Portland State University (PSU) School of Business Administration (SBA) interdisciplinary team consulting for Microsoft. Faced with improving pitch meetings with a new target audience of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs), Microsoft's West Coast enterprise software sales team sought consultation from the PSU SBA 2023 Business Honors cohort. This text reflects on the precursors responsible for the consulting project’s success, including the university’s guiding principles, interdisciplinary philosophy, and applicable business practices. The final solution includes insights into CMO types, needs development, a marketing enterprise software visual sales …

How Beavers (Castor Canadensis) Affect Habitat Availability For Two Native Oregon Turtles: Actinemys Marmorata And Chrysemys Picta Bellii, Rodé Krige

University Honors Theses

Oregon is home to two native freshwater turtle species: the northwestern pond turtle and the western painted turtle. Both turtles are Oregon conservation strategy species with a status rating of sensitive, indicating declining populations. Oregon's decline in these turtle's populations is thought to be predominantly due to loss and degradation of habitat that results from development and urbanization. Beavers' ability to dam streams and create ponds may be creating habitat usable by turtles, but the relationship is under-studied. This study assessed water temperature, basking habitat, and overall turtle habitat suitability at beaver-dammed and control ponds in Portland, Oregon. Average basking …

The Praxis Of Professional Communication In Simulated Business: Psu Capstone Analysis, Molly Daniels

University Honors Theses

"Let knowledge serve the city" serves not only as Portland State University's motto but also as the guiding intent of the Business Administration capstone program to assist local companies in the city of Portland. This review covers the experience of my participation in the program including the use of education and challenges. While the experience recorded within is atypical due to the unforeseen closure of the participating client, effective communication studies with clients and other students remain pressing. This entailed examining the quantitative and qualitative needs of a hybrid coffee shop and event space and whether changing to a larger …

Driving The Future: Intersection Of Emerging Transportation Technologies And Energy Consumption, Tanmoy Bhowmik

PSU Transportation Seminars

The world of transportation is in a constant state of evolution, with emerging technologies offering greater efficiency and safety in our daily lives. However, these innovations at the same time also have far-reaching impacts on energy sectors. The rise of electric and autonomous vehicles is set to quickly transform the residential energy consumption pattern. A critical question to consider is: “How can we ensure that our energy infrastructure is ready to meet the changing demands”. To adequately prepare for this transformation, this study attempted to gain insight into the future energy pattern under different scenarios.

Perspectives On E-Scooters Use: A Multi-Year Cross-Sectional Approach To Understanding E-Scooter Travel Behavior In Portland, Oregon, Minju Kim, Nicholas M. Puczkowskyj, John Macarthur, Jennifer Dill

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Unique travel behavior patterns are observed as shared electric scooters (e-scooters) provided by private operators expand into U.S. cities. Three separate years of e-scooter ridership survey data from the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s E-scooter Pilot Programs were analyzed to ascertain the multi-year cross-sectional and demographic characteristics of e-scooter riders. A binary logistic regression model, descriptive statistics, and multiple regression model are used to analyze e-scooter mode substitution, trip purposes, and travel distance from 2018 to 2020 in Portland, Oregon. Since the introduction of e-scooter in 2018, respondents have been less likely to use their previous transportation, and especially vehicle …

The Effects Of Salt Marsh Restoration On The Hydrology Of Salt Marsh Channels, Isis Kontas

University Honors Theses

Salt marshes produce many ecosystem services, from water purification to protection from hurricanes. Despite their benefits, salt marshes have been impacted negatively by human activities. There are many salt marsh restoration projects that intend to bring back all ecological functions and services. Quantifiable measurements are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of such restoration efforts. Earlier work by Reagan Thomas demonstrated what happens to the hydrology of salt marsh channels when they are adjacent to restored salt marshes. This study builds on Thomas’ work and uses the sinuosity of channels as a quantitative, representative metric of salt marsh hydrology restoration effectiveness. …

A Tessellation Of Engineers, Grace Jenkins Welsh

University Honors Theses

A capstone project is the culmination of what a student has learned while pursuing an undergraduate degree. A project of this magnitude requires a lot of time and dedication from every member of the team. This essay looks back at the experience of an electrical engineering student participating in the design of an auxiliary power and protection of a planned substation. The author describes the team's work, how they performed as a team, and their involvement with the professional sponsor and advisor. The author examines the experience with the goal of informing and encouraging prospective engineering students who may be …

Sea Level Rise And The Drivers Of Daily Water Levels In The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, H. Baranes, Steven Dykstra, D. A. Jay, S. A. Talke

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Water levels in deltas and estuaries vary on multiple timescales due to coastal, hydrologic, meteorologic, geologic, and anthropogenic factors. These diverse factors increase the uncertainty of, and may bias, relative sea level rise (RSLR) estimates. Here, we evaluate RSLR in San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, USA by applying a physics-based, nonlinear regression to 50 tide gauges that determines the spatially varying controls on daily mean water level for water years 2004–2022. Results show that elevated river flow and pumping (99th percentile) raise water level up to 6 m and lower it up to 0.35 m, respectively, and …