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University Honors Theses

Theses/Dissertations

2022

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Articles 1 - 12 of 12

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Characterizing The Single-Photon State: Quantum Physics Experiments With Single-Photon Sensitivity, Sheldon Lee Field Aug 2022

Characterizing The Single-Photon State: Quantum Physics Experiments With Single-Photon Sensitivity, Sheldon Lee Field

University Honors Theses

Coincidence-counting and spontaneous parametric downconversion are central to introductory quantum mechanical experimentation but have remained largely out of reach of undergraduate physics instructors. This thesis summarizes the theory behind light polarization, spontaneous parametric downconversion, birefringent refractive indices, and an affordable self-contained photon coincidence counting unit (CCU). A method for implementing a CCU to demonstrate downconversion is presented, and empirical results are provided.

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Understanding Water Security In Portland, Oregon: Using Newspapers As Tools For Science Communication And Education, Julian Roth Aug 2022

Understanding Water Security In Portland, Oregon: Using Newspapers As Tools For Science Communication And Education, Julian Roth

University Honors Theses

Water insecurity is faced by a large percentage of the global population, particularly in urban areas, which face greater and more complex needs for water resources. Better tools are needed to be able to recognize and communicate water security issues in a way that reinforces water systems, engages all stakeholders, and recognizes early warnings of environmental injustice. This research examines utilizing public newspaper articles to produce these tools. Using a case-study approach, this thesis explores newspaper articles about water from 2014-2020 in the urban center of Portland, Oregon, to understand local water security issues and to build a system of …

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Equilibria: Sustainability And Eco-Awareness In Music Production, Ashley A. Kahl-Placek Aug 2022

Equilibria: Sustainability And Eco-Awareness In Music Production, Ashley A. Kahl-Placek

University Honors Theses

Cross-disciplinary exploration between science and the arts is one tool to help solve some of the biggest issues facing humans. Climate change and loss of biodiversity can be represented via sound art and contemporary music composition. Wholistic eco-awareness and sustainability are possible when projects are based in unique species-inspired soundscapes, the cultivation of targeted, action-inspiring lyricism, and a sustainable navigation of the marketing and distribution pathways of the music industry. From the fall of 2021 to summer of 2022, field recordings of unique ecosystems were collected and combined with songwriting rooted in a love and hope for the future of …

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Analytic Solution Of 1d Diffusion-Convection Equation With Varying Boundary Conditions, Małgorzata B. Glinowiecka-Cox Jun 2022

Analytic Solution Of 1d Diffusion-Convection Equation With Varying Boundary Conditions, Małgorzata B. Glinowiecka-Cox

University Honors Theses

A diffusion-convection equation is a partial differential equation featuring two important physical processes. In this paper, we establish the theory of solving a 1D diffusion-convection equation, subject to homogeneous Dirichlet, Robin, or Neumann boundary conditions and a general initial condition. Firstly, we transform the diffusion-convection equation into a pure diffusion equation. Secondly, using a separation of variables technique, we obtain a general solution formula for each boundary type case, subject to transformed boundary and initial conditions. While eigenvalues in the cases of Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions can be constructed easily, the Robin boundary condition necessitates solving a transcendental algebraic …

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Policing By Proxy: Interrogating Big Tech's Role In Law Enforcement, Claire Elizabeth Jun 2022

Policing By Proxy: Interrogating Big Tech's Role In Law Enforcement, Claire Elizabeth

University Honors Theses

Predictive policing, sometimes referred to as data-driven or actuarial policing, is a method of policing that uses a risk-based approach to law enforcement. For-profit technology companies market proprietary risk assessment algorithms to law enforcement organizations as tools meant to proactively mitigate crime. Using data collected from a vast array of sources, both personal and public, police are able to "predict" the likelihood of criminal activity in a given area using these algorithms. Proponents claim that risk assessment tools have the potential to fight crime with unbiased accuracy and speed by predicting when, where, and whom to police by relying on …

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Detection And Quantification Of Arsenic Pollution With A Moss Bio-Indicator And Icp-Ms, Erin R. Bowey Jun 2022

Detection And Quantification Of Arsenic Pollution With A Moss Bio-Indicator And Icp-Ms, Erin R. Bowey

University Honors Theses

Heavy metal pollution is a recognized concern with an established source of anthropogenic activity, which is ever-increasing. While work has been done to make the monitoring of some metals more accessible, resourceful, and efficient with the use of epiphytic moss as a bio-indicator, this method has not been optimized for the detection of arsenic. Previously used analytical instrumentation has not proven sensitive enough to reliably detect arsenic, creating a gap in the monitoring process. However, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is proposed as the solution to fill this gap. Its potential for low limits of detection and quantification express …

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Data-Driven Analysis Of Drug And Substance Abuse Rates Across The Varying Regions In The United States Of America, Reem Saleh Jun 2022

Data-Driven Analysis Of Drug And Substance Abuse Rates Across The Varying Regions In The United States Of America, Reem Saleh

University Honors Theses

Drugs and substance abuse is one of the leading causes of death for adolescents in the United States. The consequences of using these drugs are profound and can cause both damage to one's physical and psychological health. The rates of drug abuse in the United States continue to increase over the years. This paper analyzes the trends in rates of drug abuse in the four regions in the United States. It looks at the rates in cocaine, cigarettes, marijuana, and tobacco. A preliminary analysis was done to look at the trend in rates followed by an ARIMA time series model …

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National Climate Data Graphical Plotting Software Review, Melissa Barnes Jun 2022

National Climate Data Graphical Plotting Software Review, Melissa Barnes

University Honors Theses

This is a review of an undergraduate Computer Science Capstone project. The paper discusses the development process, what software tools were used, the challenges faced during the development process, and what the software does. The software described in this paper is a python program that utilizes United States county-scoped climate and drought data from the National Climate Data Center to create visualizations and mathematical calculations. The software has an interactive user interface that displays various graphs, heat maps and calculated values. Elevation and population data estimates for populated areas in most counties is also provided. Users may select any set …

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Understanding Ch4 Emissions From Compostables: An Exploration Of Local Ch4 Emissions From Landfilled Compostables And The Efficacy Of Emission Mitigation Via Anaerobic Biogas Digestion, Jordan-Yoosuf Aljbour Jun 2022

Understanding Ch4 Emissions From Compostables: An Exploration Of Local Ch4 Emissions From Landfilled Compostables And The Efficacy Of Emission Mitigation Via Anaerobic Biogas Digestion, Jordan-Yoosuf Aljbour

University Honors Theses

Methane (CH4) is the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas within the atmosphere, comprising ~16% of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas composition on Earth. It has an ~12-year lifetime relative to its eventual oxidation via reaction with tropospheric hydroxyl radicals (OH), and has a 100-year indirect global warming potential (GWP) approximately ranging between 28-36 [Environmental Protection Agency, 2021]. In recent years, the observed average global concentration of atmospheric CH4 has increased by ~11.0% from 2020 (~15.3 ppb) to 2021 (~17.0 ppb) [Dlugokencky et al., 1994; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2022]. With …

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Does Restoration Of Urban Riparian Zones Impact Stream Water Quality In Portland, Oregon, Ash Ivanov Mar 2022

Does Restoration Of Urban Riparian Zones Impact Stream Water Quality In Portland, Oregon, Ash Ivanov

University Honors Theses

Riparian zones influence urban stream quality through factors such as shading the stream, adding nutrients through leaf litter, stabilizing the stream banks to reduce turbidity, and filtering toxins out of the water. Riparian restoration often involves changing plant assemblage to be more diverse and include primarily native species instead of non-native, improving connection to the stream through changing stream morphology, improving species habitat, and reducing pollution. The goal of this study was to determine if urban riparian restoration projects in the region were successful, and if not, why that may be the case. The study was performed in the Portland, …

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Minimality Of Integer Bar Visibility Graphs, Emily Dehoff Mar 2022

Minimality Of Integer Bar Visibility Graphs, Emily Dehoff

University Honors Theses

A visibility representation is an association between the set of vertices in a graph and a set of objects in the plane such that two objects have an unobstructed, positive-width line of sight between them if and only if their two associated vertices are adjacent. In this paper, we focus on integer bar visibility graphs (IBVGs), which use horizontal line segments with integer endpoints to represent the vertices of a given graph. We present results on the exact widths of IBVGs of paths, cycles, and stars, and lower bounds on trees and general graphs. In our main results, we find …

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Classifying Dead Code In Software Development, Arman Alavizadeh Mar 2022

Classifying Dead Code In Software Development, Arman Alavizadeh

University Honors Theses

Dead code pervades as an issue in the world of software development as a source of many famous software disasters such as the ARIANE 5 rocket failure and chemical bank withdrawal error. Defining dead code on narrow levels of granularity has not been fully explored, yet is crucial to better our understanding of dead code. Here we will be starting a discussion on how to approach classifying dead code via comparing dead code research specific to an industry segment. Research will be compared primarily by methodology and limitations. Dead code subtype classifications are gleaned from research comparisons and can serve …

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