Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Emerging Aquatic Plant Threats To Oregon Waterways, Jacob Rose, Gabriel Campbell

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

This brief presentation provides an overview some of two invasive aquatic plants that pose a threat to the Columbia River, where it borders Oregon and Washington. Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) and fragrant waterlily (Nymphaea odorata) threaten aquatic habitats up and down the Columbia River. Staff from the Center for Lakes & Reservoirs promoted a quick, picture-based key for flowering rush and lookalikes. This presentation was given orally at the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Interagency Noxious Weed Symposium to an audience of natural resource practitioners.

Bayesian Estimation Of A Pragmatic Model For Monetary Policy Analysis: The Case Of Pakistan, Shahzad Ahmad, Waliullah .

CBER Conference

In this study, Bayesian maximum likelihood estimation of quarterly projections model for Pakistan as presented, as documented in Ahmad & Pasha (2015). Estimation results based on quarterly data from 2001 to 2023 show substantial differences in values of estimated versus calibrated parameters related to aggregate demand, aggregate supply, monetary policy rule and exogenous shock processes. The aim of this study is to compare forecasting performance for key macro variables. It shows that the estimated model provides more precise forecasts in case of headline inflation, real GDP growth, interest rate and exchange rate over 8-quarters forecast horizon. An estimated model for …

Monetary Policy In Good Times And In Bad: Empirical Evidence From Pakistan, Haider Ali

CBER Conference

A significant body of literature explores and establishes the impact of monetary policy on output and prices, at least in the short run. However, the subsequent question is whether this effect is symmetric concerning the various states of the economy (see, Tenreyro and Thwaites, 2016; Bernstein, 2021; Eichenbaum et al., 2022; among others). This study contributes to the literature on state-dependent (non-linear) effects of unanticipated monetary policy shocks according to two important features of the economy. The amount of slack in the economy and the amount of the public-sector footprint in the market. Evaluating state-dependent effects is crucial because assuming …

Unlocking The Power Of Data: Enhancing Public Policy Through Advanced Data Infrastructure And Language Model Analysis, Zahid Asghar

CBER Conference

Data is the fundamental building block for advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), general AI (GAI), machine learning (ML), and large language models (LLMs). This study emphasizes the critical need for robust data infrastructure, arguing that without it, countries cannot fully benefit from technological advancements in various economic sectors. Governments possess vast repositories of both structured and unstructured data across multiple domains such as the judiciary, parliaments, and civil bureaucracy. However, these potential goldmines remain untapped due to inadequate data management capabilities and a lack of appreciation for the necessity of high-quality data. The research identifies key issues in public data …

The Energy Efficiency Price Premium Of Residential Buildings In Three Italian Regions, Elena Giarda, Demetrio Panarello

CBER Conference

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether a higher energy efficiency of residential buildings translates into higher house prices in Italy. We employ novel, and almost unexploited, data on Energy Performance Certificates of three Italian regions (EmiliaRomagna, Lombardy and Piedmont) and merge them with house prices and socioeconomic variables at various aggregation levels. The relationship between house prices and energy efficiency is estimated by means of hedonic regression models, quantile regressions and fixed effects panel data models. Our results reveal the existence of an energy-efficiency price premium in the three regions, with significant differences among them. Heterogeneity is …

Virtual Water Trade: Theory And An Empirical Application, Sultan Sat, Harun Uçak

CBER Conference

Throughout human history, water has been a determining factor in all human actions. In fact, it is seen that the oldest civilizations were established near rivers. There have been mutual effects between civilizations and water, and lifestyles have changed due to these effects. Today, access to usable water is becoming increasingly difficult. The water problem that arises due to some qualitative and quantitative negativities in a country is spreading to other countries with a butterfly effect under the influence of increasing globalization. This situation removes the water problem from being a local problem and turns it into a global problem. …

Does Tourists’ Perception Of Social Responsibility Awareness Shape Tourists’ Environmental Behavior: A Case Study In A High Mountain Region, Amjad Ali

CBER Conference

Tourism has emerged as a crucial source of livelihood for high mountain communities in Pakistan, leading to a notable increase in tourist influx over the past few years (Ali and Shedayi, 2023). This growth has created numerous income-generating opportunities for local communities, particularly in the hotel and transport sectors, offering substantial employment to the local population. However, tourism has significant adverse environmental impacts on destinations, especially fragile mountain areas (Ali, 2021). Irresponsible tourist behavior exacerbates these adverse effects (Juvan & Dolnicar, 2017; Lee et al., 2013). Therefore, understanding tourist behavior is crucial for effective destination management and policymaking. Developing and …

Snap Recipients' Labor Supply In The Presence Of Children In Households, Sanae Tashiro, Jongsung Kim

Mathematics and Economics Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Analyzing Food Security Trends Amidst Environmental Challenges: A Convergence Perspective, Faisal Azeem Abbassi, Muhammad Jamil

CBER Conference

This study aims to test the existence of convergence in global food security from 2012 to 2022. It contributes to the existing literature by connecting two empirical findings: first, income per capita is a significant determinant of countries’ state of food security, and second, the neoclassical growth model predicts income per capita to converge over time. These findings suggest the possibility of convergence in global food security. This study employs Phillips and Sul’s (2007) club convergence methodology on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2022 model, developed by Economist Impact for 113 countries. Results indicate an absence of global convergence …

Role Of Greenfield Investment, Institutional Quality, And Economic Activities On Environmental Performance In Belt & Road Initiative Countries, Jamal Hussain, Sajid Hassan

CBER Conference

Researchers have produced varying conclusions on the matter of coexistence of economic activities with the protection or improvement of environmental performance. This study investigates the association between greenfield investments, economic activity, institutional quality, and environmental performance in Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) countries from 2003 to 2022. Yale University's Environmental Performance Index (EPI) assesses environmental performance. Advanced second-generation econometrics estimation approaches address concerns like cross-sectional dependence, potential endogeneity, and heterogeneity. Further analysis is employed across four income-level sub-panels: lowincome (LI), lower-middle-income (LMI), upper-middle-income (UMI), and high-income (HI) countries, covering the years 2003 to 2021 to validate reliability and consistency. This …

12.09.2024 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Employee Profiles

In Person Account Reconciliation and Tableau Training

NSF Proposals with Consultant or Professional Services

Development Of A Rapid Method For Pfas Detection And Quantitation In Human Hair, Justin M. Allen

Student Theses

In recent years, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have emerged as a critical focus in environmental and public health research due to their persistent nature and widespread use in products ranging from non-stick cookware to firefighting foams. These "forever chemicals" resist degradation, posing significant ecological and human health risks. While extensive studies have explored PFAS in environmental matrices, research into their presence in human hair remains limited, with only a handful of studies addressing this biomarker's potential. This thesis aims to develop a robust analytical method for detecting PFAS in human hair, leveraging its unique properties to provide a long-term …

On The Benefits Of Directness In Virtual Characters For Motivational Interviews, Michael O'Mahony, Cathy Ennis, Robert Ross

Conference papers

Understanding the factors influencing successful engagement with Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs) remains a significant challenge. This understanding could be used to personalise agents to users to improve interactions. Some studies have shown that simulating personalities in healthcare agents can improve effectiveness and engagement. However, it is not yet well understood how variations of agent personality can be leveraged to improve user engagement with Motivational Interviewing (MI) ECAs. Specifically how the balance between agent warmth and directness can be controlled in an MI agent to improve likeability and engagement. We conducted an online Wizard-of-Oz (WoZ) mediated study of two variants of …

Methods In Environmental Studies, Erika Dunagan, Maya Mendoza, Posey Graber, Alex Cullins, Emma Mcginnis, Ally Nepomuceno, Isabella Buchan

Featured Student Work

This publication is a collection of undergraduate research conducted in the Methods in Environmental Studies course at the University of San Francisco in Fall 2024. The student-led projects explore the intersections of place, policy, ecology, and cultural identity through applied environmental research methodologies. Topics include a decolonial examination of the Forest Park Mound Group and Indigenous resilience in St. Louis; a comparative study of Navajo cosmology and ecological justice; a social and environmental impact assessment of Costa Rica’s National Decarbonization Plan; a psychogeographical analysis of Golden Gate Park and its impact on the psyche, emotions, behaviour, and health of urban …

Ferruccio Busoni And His Muses, Jiayan Sun

2025 Publications & Works

Piano Recital: Sun, Jiayan - BUSONI, F. / BACH, J.S. / LISZT, F. / MOZART, W.A. (Ferruccio Busoni and His Muses)

Statistical Analysis For Pre- And Post- Assessments Of Sdq And Idela Scores, Diego Murillo, Franceli L. Cibrian

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

This research aimed to assess the potential of Mazi Umntanakho ("Know Your Child") in tracking developmental milestones in young children. Mazi is a WhatsApp-based conversational agent that assists South African home visitors in evaluating and monitoring children's socio-emotional skills using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the International Development and Early Learning Assessment (IDELA). A field study was conducted in low-income South African communities, where 95 home visitors assessed 1,208 children. This detailed analysis of the data was collected during that deployment, focusing on investigating whether assessment scores improved over time and whether the length of time between assessments …

The Impact Of Student Engagement Activities On Future Climate Change Adaptation: The Case Of Student Simulation Models, Bassel Mostafa Elkalaf

Future Journal of Social Science

This paper explores the critical role of student engagement in addressing the growing challenges of climate change, with a focus on the Model United Nations (MUN) as a case study. As climate-related security threats increase globally, educational platforms that prepare youth for effective leadership in climate politics are more essential than ever. MUN, a widely practiced student activity simulating global policy-making, provides a valuable opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the interconnectedness between climate change, peace, and security. By participating in MUN simulations, students engage in debates, develop innovative solutions, and practice diplomatic skills, all while exploring the …

Case Study On Seney National Wildlife Refuge: How The Upper Peninsula Led Wildlife Conservation In The Beginning Of The Twentieth Century, Holly A. Galligan

HS 390 Primary Research Papers

The research presented in this paper will weave together the story of how the Upper Peninsula became a crucial hub for wildlife conservation in the first half of the twentieth century. Seeking to answer the question of how and why this occurred, as well as why it is distinct from the social movement of the 1960s, the research is based on public awareness, photographic research developments, and the concept of the national system for conservation. Hunting played the main role in the motivations for this movement therefore, it is also heavily discussed throughout. The previous research on this subject emerged …

Grosafe: In-Classroom Technology-Enabled Solution To Build Societal Resilience Against Child Grooming, Christina Thorpe, Fiona Jennings

Conference Papers

GroSafe is an innovative initiative developed by TU Dublin in partnership with the ISPCC to address the critical issue of child grooming. By leveraging cutting-edge digital technologies, GroSafe focuses on educating children, caregivers, and educators to recognise, report, and prevent grooming behaviours. It integrates a 3D educational gaming environment with adaptive learning tools, enabling safe and effective engagement for children, including those with diverse learning needs. Designed to align with Ireland’s SPHE curriculum, GroSafe empowers schools and communities to tackle grooming through early intervention and resilience building.

Curbing Environmental Degradation To Balance Sustainable Development: Evidence From China, Muneza Kagzi, Vishal Dagar, Nadia Doytch, Deepika Krishnan, Manisha Raj

Ateneo School of Government Publications

To achieve the goals of sustainable development, it is crucial to check the balance of increased level of international trade along with financial development, foreign direct investment (FDI), energy consumption, and institutional advancement with the quality of the environment. This study focuses on how these variables have caused environmental degradation in China. To achieve Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), i.e. to increase the nation's resilience to natural disasters and hazards related to climate change, to promote climate action and safeguard life as part of sustainable development, this involves the analysis of time-series data sets from 1975 to …

Toward An Insider Threat Education Platform: A Theoretical Literature Review, Haywood Gelman, John D. Hastings, David Kenley, Eleanor Loiacono

Research & Publications

Insider threats (InTs) within organizations are small in number but have a disproportionate ability to damage systems, information, and infrastructure. Existing InT research studies the problem from psychological, technical, and educational perspectives. Proposed theories include research on psychological indicators, machine learning, user behavioral log analysis, and educational methods to teach employees recognition and mitigation techniques. Because InTs are a human problem, training methods that address InT detection from a behavioral perspective are critical. While numerous technological and psychological theories exist on detection, prevention, and mitigation, few training methods prioritize psychological indicators. This literature review studied peer-reviewed, InT research organized by …

River Confinement And Braiding Loss In Canterbury Region, Aotearoa New Zealand, Victoria Barlow, Peter Ashmore

Geography & Environment Publications

In relation to the wider concern that rivers in Aotearoa New Zealand have been narrowed by river control and land-use encroachment, and that iconic braided patterns are being lost, nine braided rivers from the Canterbury region were studied to compare river width, pattern type and braiding intensity between the mid-1900s and the present based on mapping from aerial images. Channel narrowing occurred along >90% (~490km) of the length of the rivers studied, 375km of which were historically braided. In total, the rivers narrowed by an average of 43% (48% for braided reaches). Coinciding with narrowing, braided reaches lost 1.3 channels, …

Everyone Brings Something To The Table: A Culturally Sustaining Analysis Of Teacher Candidates’ Mixed Reality Teaching Simulations, Erin Scott

Faculty Publications

Discussions of HBCU students’ content knowledge have centered around developing high impact, asset-based approaches to learning (Williams et al, 2022). So, HBCU teacher preparation providers (TPPs) can also focus efforts on culturally sustaining approaches to developing candidates’ content knowledge and researching how high impact practices, like teaching simulations, can help prepare candidates for classrooms. This exploratory case study uses critical cases (n=2); findings suggest candidates have a developing understanding of content, which forms a solid basis for increasing their knowledge. MRTSs are addressed as a potential high impact, culturally sustaining practice for building candidates’ content knowledge. Further, HBCU TPPs can …

The Effects Of Negative Feedback On Cognitive And Behavior Performance Related To Self-Efficacy, Elizabeth Ann Godfrey, Karly Kammann, Mattie Harvey, Rayna Cruickshanks

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Feedback is information or guidance in response to a behavior, action, or result. Feedback is a method for improvement and is a tool commonly used by professors, coaches, and bosses. Existing literature suggests that feedback can elicit emotional responses affecting attitudes and behaviors across contexts. Negative feedback specifically is understudied with variable findings; some literature suggests negative feedback is dismissed while other studies suggest that it may enhance performance. Similar inconclusive findings exist when examining ability-based and effort-based feedback. One factor that may play a role in the response to feedback is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy contributes to emotional reactions and thoughts …

Estimating Medium-Term Regional Monthly Economic Activity Reductions During The Covid-19 Pandemic Using Nighttime Light Data, Ma Flordeliza P. Del Castillo, Toshio Fujimi, Hirokazu Tatano

SOSE Affiliate: Manila Observatory

Economic impact estimates of the initial lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic showed a significant reduction in economic activities globally. However, the succeeding impacts and their spatiotemporal distribution within countries remain unknown. Studies showed that nighttime light data (NTL) has effectively revealed the spatiotemporal dimensions of the economic effects of COVID-19. Thus, this study used NTL data to determine the medium-term regional monthly economic impacts of the pandemic in the Philippines in terms of the Economic Activity Reduction (EAR) index. We generated a spatial error model, regressing pre-pandemic NTL on mean temperature, maximum rainfall, and built-up area. This model explained …

Scholarships, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

The Periconceptional, Physical Activity, Environment, Nutrition And Diet (Prepared) Study, Aaliyah Devore

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Accessibility: Policy Innovations For Lower Limb Prosthetic Users, Hannah Huggans

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

About The Mcnair Scholars Program, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Using Machine Learning To Improve Confidence In Lung Cancer Diagnosis, Sandra Channeary Khoun

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Health professionals must diagnose correctly to avoid unnecessary costs in care and medicine. Different conditions, come with different treatments. Therefore, it is key to produce the right diagnoses promptly to help treat people appropriately and quickly. As lung cancer is the leading cancer type in the world, it is often diagnosed too late once symptoms appear which becomes difficult to treat at certain stages. In the race against time, recruiting the use of machine learning next to traditional methods of diagnosing will improve the confidence of professionals to predict specific conditions accurately and with speed. For our research, we will …