Digital Commons Network^™

Statistical Modeling Of Historical Daily Water Temperatures In The Lower Columbia River, Malia Hanae Scott

Dissertations and Theses

Water temperature affects numerous aspects of aquatic life, and its stability is critical to cold water fish such as salmonids. With rising anthropogenic influence in natural environments, the future existence of these organisms is becoming less certain. In this study, I examined the evolution of historical water temperatures in the lower Columbia River by creating a statistical model to estimate daily historical water temperatures between the 1850s and 2010s. Daily air temperature and river flow measurements were used as inputs to the model, which estimated daily water temperatures at Bonneville Dam. The model used time lags between air temperature and …

Determinants Of Student Information Technology Adoption, Hans P. Vanderschaaf

Dissertations and Theses

Innovating service delivery in higher education is central to supporting institutional and societal goals of increasing the numbers of college graduates and for transforming higher education institutions to center on the needs of today's students. Within this context, technology plays a critical role. This research seeks to contribute to institutional, academic and educational technology sector efforts to dramatically enhance service quality, in support of improving undergraduate student outcomes (student success), by identifying the determinants of student information technology adoption and removing barriers to accessing higher education.

Using a mixed-methods and empirical approach based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and …

No Oxygen, No Water: The Unique Physiology Of Annual Killifish Embryos Across Development, Daniel Erik Zajic

Dissertations and Theses

For most vertebrates, an abundance of oxygen is necessary for the production of ATP and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. The absence of oxygen, even for brief periods, quickly leads to ATP depletion which can lead to irreparable damages to sensitive organs, such as the brain and heart. However, certain vertebrates demonstrate an extraordinary ability to thrive and recover fully from periods of no oxygen (anoxia). The annual killifish (Austrofundulus limnaeus) lives in ephemeral ponds in the Maracaibo basin of Venezuela and their embryos have the remarkable ability to not only survive anoxic periods for months, but also …

A Computer Science Academic Vocabulary List, David Roesler

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis documents the development of the Computer Science Academic Vocabulary List (CSAVL), a pedagogical tool intended for use by English-for-specific-purpose educators and material developers. A 3.5-million-word corpus of academic computer science textbooks and journal articles was developed in order to produce the CSAVL. This study draws on the improved methodologies used in the creation of recent lemma-based word lists such as the Academic Vocabulary List (AVL) and the Medical Academic Vocabulary List (MAVL), which take into account the discipline-specific meanings of academic vocabulary. The CSAVL provides specific information for each entry, including part of speech and CS-specific meanings in …

Guided Reinvention As A Context For Investigating Students' Thinking About Mathematical Language And For Supporting Students In Gaining Fluency, Kristen Vroom

Dissertations and Theses

Fluency with mathematical language is important for students' engagement in many disciplinary practices such as defining, conjecturing, and proving; yet, there is growing evidence that mathematical language is challenging for undergraduate students. This dissertation study draws on two design experiments with pairs of students who were supported to encode their mathematical meanings with more formal language. I aimed to investigate the teaching and learning of mathematical language, and particularly the language in statements with multiple quantifiers, by engaging students in this type of activity. In the first paper, I investigated the complex ways in which the students in my study …

Short- And Long-Term Impacts Of A Deliberative Pedagogy In Introductory Biology And Chemistry Courses, Liz Rain-Griffith

Dissertations and Theses

There have been multiple national calls for curricular reform in college-level science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including a need to instill democratic skills in students. Democratic skill building can be embedded in STEM classrooms through intentional "deliberative pedagogies" which include skills in: communication, collaboration, and application. We developed and implemented a deliberative pedagogy, Deliberative Democracy (DD), across introductory majors and non-majors biology courses and a majors chemistry course. In two separate studies, I took a longitudinal, qualitative research approach to understand introductory biology and chemistry students' experiences and perceptions of DD. For the first study, I tracked a cohort …

Mechanics Of Canopy Turbulence, Hawwa Falih Kadum

Dissertations and Theses

Large canopies interact with the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and alter transport of matter, energy, and momentum in accordance to their morphology. Canopy structure influence on turbulent processes can be utilized to achieve favorable interactions. Wind farm and forest canopies spatial arrangement is investigated in this work. Momentum fluxes investigated in a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) array showed the existence of gusts of wind transported both from ABL above the canopy and the unperturbed flow below the canopy through sweep and ejection events. A new wind farm arrangement in which clusters of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) are collocated …

Identifying Typologies Of Failure To Appear, Ciara Mcglynn

Dissertations and Theses

Empirically tracking when defendants fail to appear (FTA) for their court date is important for virtually all court systems. Factors related to FTA can inform court decision-making. Developing a typology of FTAs may provide added accuracy in pretrial detention decisions and using pretrial risk assessments. The current exploratory study expands on current knowledge of factors associated with FTA by identifying profiles of those most likely to fail to appear, and comparing with profiles of those who do show up for their court date. Seven cluster profiles were established for FTAs, and eight cluster profiles were established for non-FTAs. While there …

A Systematic Content Analysis Of The Justice Reinvestment Programs Across Oregon Counties, Lorena Ambriz

Dissertations and Theses

High levels of imprisonment and its associated costs have pressured criminologist and policymakers to create and establish new policies intended to reduce incarceration spending and lower the number of individuals under correctional facilities. Justice Reinvestment Initiatives (JRI) have been developed with the basic idea of redirecting the $54 billion annual incarceration spending toward rebuilding human resources and physical infrastructure of high-risk communities. These initiatives should create local programs that promote successful reentry, reduce recidivism, decrease prison usage, and improve public safety. Oregon passed the Justice Reinvestment Act in 2013, which allowed for all 36 Oregon counties to implement JRI programs …

Working From Home: Analyzing The Autonomy Of App-Based Adult Content Creators, Jenna Depasquale

Dissertations and Theses

Accessibility to social media applications ("apps") has paved the way for a new addition under the umbrella of sex work: adult content creation. By selling self-produced photos and videos through mainstream social media apps, creators experience a specific set of conditions unlike the forms of sex work that have proceeded it. Through 13 semi-structured interviews, the following question is investigated: What aspects of app-based sex work heighten or threaten workers' senses of autonomy? Autonomy is defined as being able to exert control over one's work and the ability to work without external interruption. It is found that while the demand …

Morphology, Taxonomy, And Ecological Niche Modeling Of The Cochabamba Grass Mouse, Akodon Siberiae Myers & Patton, 1989, James George Dunn

Dissertations and Theses

The Cochabamba Grass Mouse, Akodon siberiae, is a small mouse (mean head+body length: 103 mm, N = 22) that occurs in a spatially restricted range in the Bolivian Yungas forests, the cloud forest transition zone between lowland Amazonia and the Andean Altiplano. Like many species in the genus, their appearance is very similar to that of other species in the genus: they are difficult to distinguish from their congeners, and are challenging to identify. In the absence of molecular data, A. siberiae specimens require a thorough and careful analysis of external and cranial features for identification. Furthermore, Akodon …

Sensing Malignancy: Expanding Upon The Nematode Scent Detection Test, Morgan Alexandra Thompson

Dissertations and Theses

With the growing prevalence of cancer worldwide, research has increasingly focused on methods of early detection since the early detection of cancer can dramatically improve health outcomes for affected individuals. Ideally, early detection systems would be highly reliable yet cost-effective and easy to use. Toward development of such a system, Hirotsu et al. (2015), developed a "Nematode Scent Detection Test" (NSDT) that capitalizes upon the attraction of Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes to various tissue samples from cancer patients to detect multiple types and stages of cancer. However, it is currently unknown which G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and/or ligands interacting with theses …

Correctional Quackery: A Study Of Program Availability And Inmate Assaults In Adult Correctional Facilities, Casey Jay Legere

Dissertations and Theses

A wide variety of correctional programs have incited a debate regarding the utility and worth of programs within the correctional system. For some, programs are assigned strict qualifications and this narrow focus limits those that are "worthy"; all else are "correctional quackery." These harsh limitations do not allow for the consideration of secondary outcomes as measurements of value. Using negative binomial regression, this study examines 449 state correctional facilities to consider associations between program availability (categorized as correctional quackery or not) and incidence rates of violent assaults among inmates. The minimal significant results yield inconclusive findings but do offer some …

So Many Choices: An Experimental Study Of Digital Television Choice, Customization, And Satisfaction, Johanna Lee Hoener

Dissertations and Theses

Internet streaming television is increasingly available in society and is changing the way television is viewed by creating more and more choices for consumers. We no longer watch the same three channels on television, now the consumer controls when, where, and what to watch. Producers of this digital media landscape provide customization mechanisms that consumers also engage in, creating tailored presentations of content.

This study seeks to understand what the large landscape of choice does to our satisfaction in viewing choice and what part customization plays in that satisfaction through an experimental-survey design. Drawing from choice literature which points in …

Understanding Fare Evasion Defendant Compliance: An Assessment Of Criminal Records, Nataly Nunez Vasquez

Dissertations and Theses

The present study sought to examine the factors that most distinguish fare evaders who do not pay their fines and fail to appear in court from fare evaders who pay their fines and appear in court. The relationship between prior criminal history and fare evasion offenders who do not pay their fines and fail to appear in court is also explored. A sample of 24,646 defendants who received a citation for fare evasion while riding the Tri-Met transit system in Portland, Oregon were divided into two groups of fare evaders who pay and appear in court and fare evaders who …

Juveniles In The Interrogation Room: Defense Attorneys As A Protective Factor, Caitlin Noelle August

Dissertations and Theses

Juveniles have a lower comprehension of their Miranda rights than adults, and in turn, are more likely to waive those rights and cooperate during an interrogation. Some states require youths to consult with their parents before/during the interrogation; however, this involvement can be detrimental to the juvenile suspect. Recently, laws in California and Illinois have mandated that juveniles consult with a defense attorney prior to the interrogation, or that the attorney is present during the interrogation.

Through semi-structured interviews with 19 juvenile defense attorneys across the state of Oregon, I explored defense attorneys' perspectives on juveniles' legal decision-making in the …

Exploring The Factors Influencing Big Data Technology Acceptance, Mohammad Nayemur Rahman

Dissertations and Theses

The success of new technology depends on user acceptance. Therefore, discovering the antecedents of technology use is pivotal to overcoming the lack of user acceptance in the field of technology adoption. Factors of critical technological capability, in particular, are overlooked and largely neglected in the literature. Accordingly, the body of literature on the field of technology adoption is inconclusive as to which technological capability factors influence technology acceptance.

Big Data has received great attention in academic literature and industry papers. Most of the experiments and studies focused on publishing results of big data technologies development, machine learning algorithms, and data …

Understanding Institutional, Social, And Ecological Systems Influencing Climate Change Adaptation And Water Governance In Wine Regions: A Comparative Case Study Of Oregon's Willamette Valley, Usa And Tasmania, Australia, Erin Upton

Dissertations and Theses

My research examines how water management decisions create opportunities or barriers to climate change adaptation in wine regions. Water is a critical resource for economic and environmental sustainability in wine grape growing regions. Climate uncertainty presents considerable risk and vulnerability to freshwater resources in wine producing regions where needs for access to water will increase with more frequent climate extremes. Climate adaptation in the wine industry is a complex problem that requires multi-disciplinary approaches. This research aims to strengthen the interface between water governance and technological and viticulture adaptation approaches. Water resources are shared across regions by stakeholders with varied …

Testing The Correlation Of Trace Element Characteristics With The Petrology And Temperature Of Eruption Of Mid-Miocene Rhyolites In Eastern Oregon, Brianna Christine Young

Dissertations and Theses

The Lake Owyhee Volcanic Field (LOVF) in eastern Oregon experienced several major eruptive events during the mid-Miocene (16.8 to 15.5 Ma), resulting in the emplacement of 3,900 km³ of rhyolitic lava flows and ash-flow tuffs. Eighteen samples from eleven different silicic centers in the LOVF were selected for this study. While all samples of this study are classified as rhyolite, their compositions vary greatly in terms of trace and major elements. Using trace elements, these rhyolite samples are classified as "A-type", described as resulting from "hot and dry" magmas and associated with hot-spot activity, or as "I-type" or "calc-alkaline", …

Crime Risk Near Reported Homeless Encampments: A Spatial Analysis, Kortney Lynn Russell

Dissertations and Theses

Those experiencing homelessness face several challenges in contemporary society including a higher risk of victimization compared to the general population. In order to offer effective intervention to protect members of this population, understanding the spatial relationship between homeless camps and crime is imperative. To provide the foundation for a future risk assessment used to identify camps with a higher risk of nearby victimization, this study assessed crime concentration in relation to reported homeless camps in Portland, Oregon. Utilizing two publicly available data sources, this study conducted spatial analyses on voluntarily reported homeless camp data from October through December 2019 and …

Dynamic Effects Of Inertial Particles On The Wake Recovery Of A Model Wind Turbine, Sarah E. Smith

Dissertations and Theses

Impacting particles such as rain, dust, and other debris can have devastating structural effects on wind turbines, but little is known about the interaction of such debris within turbine wakes. This study aims to characterize behavior of inertial particles within the turbulent wake of a wind turbine and relative effects on wake recovery. Here a model wind turbine is subjected to varied two-phase inflow conditions, with wind as the carrier fluid (Re_λ = 49 - 88) and polydisperse water droplets (26 to 45µm in diameter) at varied concentrations (Φ_v=0.24 x 10^-5 - 1.3 …

The Rocky Ledge Fault, Shasta County, Ne California: Development And Morphology Of A Quaternary Oblique Normal Fault In Basalt, Gregory David Linscott Martin

Dissertations and Theses

Distinct morphology, variable vertical separation, and unique structural geometries are observed along the Rocky Ledge fault (RLF), an east-dipping, oblique normal fault in the tectonically complex Hat Creek Graben, Shasta County, NE California. Situated in the southern Cascade arc, the RLF is located at the boundary of the Klamath Mountains, Basin and Range, and Walker Lane Seismic Belt. The primary goal of this project is to better understand Quaternary deformation along the RLF. I developed detailed maps of geologic units and structures along the ~15 km length of the RLF. Map data informs assessment of fault geometry, scarp morphology, and …

Exploring Policies And Strategies For The Diffusion Of Remote Patient Monitoring (Rpm) For The Care Of Senior Population, Hamad Asri Alanazi

Dissertations and Theses

Telemedicine offers great promise in addressing some of the healthcare challenges such as the increase of healthcare expenditure, a growing population, and a projected physician shortage; telemedicine is increasingly being included in the discussion of medicine's future. Telemedicine offers the capabilities to deliver healthcare across distances at reduced costs while maintaining or even increasing the quality of treatment and services.

The objective of this research is to develop a model to evaluate alternative solutions to increase the adoption of RPM for the senior population. Also, the research provides a systematic approach for a comprehensive assessment of teleconsultation adoption, develop a …

Perceptions Of Police Use Of Force At The Intersection Of Race And Pregnancy, Emma Elizabeth Lee Money

Dissertations and Theses

Attention surrounding forceful policing largely focuses on men's experiences, but Black women, even when pregnant, are also harmed by police use of force. Previous research demonstrating anti-Black biases in perceptions of police use of force toward men cannot be directly applied towards women, due to unique stereotypes of Black women and mothers. How do race and pregnancy influence perceptions of police use of force against women? It was expected that pregnancy would elicit more positive responses in the current study, but only when pregnant women were also White. Benevolent sexism (BS) and social dominance orientation (SDO) were tested as moderators …

Biogeography, Morphology, And Systematics Of The Mountain Cottontail, Sylvilagus Nuttallii (Bachman, 1837), Mammalia: Lagomorpha: Leporidae, Johnnie H. French

Dissertations and Theses

Widespread species often present taxonomic conundrums: are they truly a single panmictic species, or, is the widespread species in fact a polytypic species complex constituted by independently evolving, morphologically or otherwise cryptic species? One such broadly distributed taxon is Sylvilagus nuttallii, with distribution across the western United States, ranging from South Dakota to California, and from Canada to Arizona. The three subspecies constituting S. nuttallii are, however, geographically isolated and it has been hypothesized that they likely constitute independent, species level taxa. However, that study examined only two of the three holotypes, rather than broader geographic and non-geographic variation. …

Recurrent Formation, Low Levels Of Ecological Differentiation, And Secondary Dispersal Facilitate The Establishment And Persistence Of Autopolyploids In Eriophyllum Lanatum, Nicolas Alexander Diaz

Dissertations and Theses

The high rates of polyploidization events in angiosperms is a well-documented driver of diversification and speciation. The consequences of polyploidy--from gene expression up to ecology--and the processes facilitating the persistence of polyploidy in its early establishment in populations are poorly understood. In this thesis, I examined the role of recurrent formation, ecological differentiation, and secondary dispersal via biotic vectors in the maintenance and persistence of an intervarietal polyploid contact zone of Eriophyllum lanatum in Southern Oregon. Sampling 35 total populations, I used a whole chloroplast capture and flow cytometry to determine the diversity and distribution of chloroplast haplotypes and estimate …

Time Series Analysis Evaluating Mortality Rates And The Differences Of How States Investigate Deaths, Jordan M. Bruhn

Dissertations and Theses

Mortality statistics are essential to both public health and criminal justice systems. The causes of death that are determined by death investigators influence whether a criminal investigation is opened or not. Prior research suggests a high degree of variability for death investigator requirements across states, which may attribute to inaccurate death reporting. This research provides a 20-year evaluation of the differences in state death investigation laws and their impacts on rates of mortality. This study examines the variation in mortality rates by answering if there is a difference in mortality rates for states requiring medical examiners and states requiring coroners …

Droplet Ejections During Wet Lab Operations Aboard Spacecraft, Caleb Cushman Turner

Dissertations and Theses

The breakup and rupture of liquid bridges, thin films, bubbles, droplets, rivulets, and jets can produce satellite droplets that are subsequently ejected into their surrounding environment. For example, when any solid object is withdrawn from a liquid bath, the formation of an ever-thinning columnar liquid bridge eventually ruptures along the axis of the bridge. When rupture occurs under typical pipetting conditions the dynamics governing the rupture almost always produce at a minimum a satellite droplet. When these droplets occur they are often too small and too fast to be observed by the human eye. In a terrestrial environment they are …

Detecting Reinforcement Patterns In The Stream Of Naturalistic Observations Of Social Interactions, James Lamar Delaney 3rd

Dissertations and Theses

How do consequences affect future behaviors in real-world social interactions? The term positive reinforcer refers to those consequences that are associated with an increase in probability of an antecedent behavior (Skinner, 1938). To explore whether reinforcement occurs under naturally occuring conditions, many studies use sequential analysis methods to detect contingency patterns (see Quera & Bakeman, 1998). This study argues that these methods do not look at behavior change following putative reinforcers, and thus, are not sufficient for declaring reinforcement effects arising in naturally occuring interactions, according to the Skinner's (1938) operational definition of reinforcers.

This study presents the conceptual and …

The Persistence Of Indigenous Markets In Mexico's 'Supermarket Revolution', Diana Christina Denham

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation research investigates the paradoxical survival of Indigenous markets in the context of state-sponsored development strategies that privilege multinational retailers and rebrand Mexican cities as modern and globally competitive. I examine how Indigenous markets have survived the supermarketization (and, more precisely, Walmartization) of food retail that has taken hold in Mexico. Better known by their Nahuatl name tianguis, open-air Indigenous markets held in streets and public plazas predate the arrival of the first conquistadors and remain common across Mesoamerica today. My examination of tianguis in native language texts, colonial narratives, popular art, and mid-20th century newspapers demonstrates that …