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Midwest Social Sciences Journal

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Volume 26, Full Contents

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

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Where Did All The Bed Bugs Go?, Lauren Friedman

Capstones

In the early 2000s in New York City, everyone was talking about bed bugs. The disc-shaped, bloodsucking pests had been a common domestic nuisance up to the World War II era, but in the decades since, they’d mostly faded into obscurity. That was until bed bug infestations, which are often psychologically distressing and sometimes impossible to overcome, suddenly became routine across the five boroughs, driving people from their apartments and stoking fear about everything from upholstered theater seats to thrift stores.

But then, just as quickly as bed bugs had invaded, they seemed to fade away. In a 2022 study …

E-Governance: The Implication Of Next Social Generation Welfare Information System, Yaya Mulyana Abdul Aziz, Andre Ariesmansyah

Smart City

Accelerating bureaucracy can be performed by e-governance present in order to improve the quality of government administration in the world. E-governance draft is closely related to the development of information and communication technology (ICT) globally. One form of embodiment of e-governance is the implementation of a smart city. smart cities are expected to be able to become a liaison between the demands of the community in appropriate, effective, and efficient services from the city government, by utilizing ICT. There are various related definitions of smart city in this world. One of them is as explained by Nam and Pardo who …

Pedestrian-Friendly Streets: Assessing Overall Success On Well-Being With Post-Evaluations, Ariana Ordoñez

Student Works

Today, well-being has taken a central role in urban planning, emphasizing the significance of pedestrian-friendly streets for the overall welfare of a city's residents. Pedestrian-friendly streets are vital elements of urban design that enhance mobility and contribute significantly to people's quality of life. This study examines the impact of pedestrian-friendly streets on the well-being of individuals through a post-evaluation approach. The research focuses on two projects: the 12 Avenue South project, completed in April 2022, and the Madison Station Boulevard project, completed in August 2022. The study uses a well-being questionnaire encompassing physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains by conducting …

Uncovering The Nuance And Complexity Of Gentrification In Asian Immigrant Communities: A Case Study Of Koreatown, Los Angeles, Seyoung Sung

Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation examines the nuances and complexities of gentrification in Asian immigrant communities in transit-oriented neighborhoods of Los Angeles, with a particular focus on commercial changes. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study aims to clarify how gentrification uniquely affects these communities, both in terms of residential and commercial aspects. The primary question of this research is: How do gentrification dynamics and consequences manifest uniquely in Asian immigrant communities?

The research unfolds in two stages. First, the study begins with a comprehensive analysis of neighborhood changes in Asian immigrant communities focusing on demographic dynamics, housing shifts, and commercial trends. The analysis …

Key Points In Preparation For Oregon Legislative Session (2024): Examining The Multifaceted Impacts Of Drug Decriminalization On Public Safety, Law Enforcement, And Prosecutorial Discretion, Kelsey S. Henderson, Christopher Campbell, Brian Renauer

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

These findings are part of a 3-year study to examine the impacts of possession of PCS law changes on: (1) law enforcement discretion, (2) prosecutorial decision-making, (3) courts/sentencing, and (4) public safety. The key findings, unless noted, represent statewide trends and impacts. Prior to M110, other statewide changes in policy, law, and historical events such as the COVID-19 lockdown/court backlog and public defense crisis also had important impacts on enforcement, prosecution/sentencing, and public safety outcomes. As such, data collected during the early implementation of M110 is not likely a reliable predictor of its ultimate impact. The data reported on below …

Identifying The Disproportionate Impacts Of Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Katrina, And Covid-19 On African Americans: A Pandemic Within A Pandemic, Daniella Plaza

Dissertations (2016-Present)

African Americans have endured a disproportionately high amount of exposure to natural and man-made calamities. The racial inequities against African Americans following the hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, and the Coronavirus were examined in this study. Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey took place in two different states, but the low-income vulnerable populations encountered the same outcome which manifested as deteriorating health, lack of rapid assistance from the government, and, the exacerbation of pre-existing conditions. Literature reviews have uncovered political apathy and systemic racism. These people have lost faith in the government as evidenced by Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Harvey, and COVID-19. The results …

Fall 2023 Newsletter, Claudia May Dr., Sarah Disher

The Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL)

Connecting with others, hearing and sharing our stories, valuing our experiences, and learning from each other, can enrich our appreciation of those we encounter. Nurturing such humane connections enables us to be enriched by, and enrich, the lives of those whom we meet.

Determining The Effect Of The Presence Of Food Deserts On The Number Of Crashes In Census Tracts In Arkansas, Lizbeth Juarez-Bartolo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food deserts, areas with limited access to grocery stores which sell fresh produce, dairy, and meats, are a growing concern in many communities. The presence of a food desert is known to cause great impacts on the physical health of the people residing within them, but there is little to no research on a food desert’s influence on the traffic safety of the location in which it encompasses. Based on previous studies into food deserts, studies suggest that food inaccessibility is mostly felt by rural residents. Since rural residents must travel farther distances on more hazardous rural roadways to access …

Scooting To A Brighter Tomorrow: Shared E-Scooters And Their Use In Lincoln, Nebraska, Tanner J. Hiemer

Community and Regional Planning Program: Theses

As a recent addition to our transportation systems, shared e-scooters have the potential to improve how people travel in the urban environment. While there is a lot to be hopeful about, the relative novelty of e-scooters calls for closer examination of how they interact with the built environment and other modes of transportation. Additionally, the equity of shared e-scooters must be at the forefront of discussion when considering their utility in the future. Given their flexibility in use, e-scooters could fill spatial gaps in transportation systems and provide improved mobility to those who are most transportation disadvantaged. This research aims …

Attitudes Of Experiential Designers Across Design Disciplines, Danielle Degarmo

Architecture Masters of Science Program: Theses

The expanded use of the term scenography is widening its understanding of the word to encompass many experiential design disciplines beyond its origin in theatre. At its essence, scenography is the culmination of a designer’s collaborative efforts to take a prompt, whether it be a client program, a script, or other, and produce a holistic assemblage of experiential design elements to spatially engage an end user. Many experts in across design fields have acknowledged that there is disciplinary cross over among those practicing in experiential design fields in terms of design output or intention. By means of designer surveys and …

… And I Feel Fine, Lisa K. Bates

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

I had a little bit of a meltdown at a coffee break during the recent meeting of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning – North America’s gathering of university planning faculty. It’s not typically a high-key emotional atmosphere, but I was truly thrown for a loop by a photo display of past meetings. There I was, among colleagues, as we hosted the 2016 meeting in Portland. In the picture, taken about two weeks before the U.S. election, we are all grinning widely. I had passed out lapel pins with Michelle Obama making a side-eye face to all the members …

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 …

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.

Childcare Organizations: A Qualitative Study On Childcare Leaders’ Perceptions Of The Elements That Promote The Work They Do In The Childcare Industry, Paula S. Polito Mrs.

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Research has often highlighted the positive effects of high-quality early care and education on children's development and the economy. However, the challenge of ensuring access to quality care for all children and understanding the perspectives of leaders doing crucial work on the ground remains. Given the strong associations between high-quality early childhood education, brain development, and positive economic outcomes for those who access high-quality care, my paper introduces a theory of change. This theory outlines a pathway from understanding the determinants of quality in childcare centers, as seen through the eyes of industry leaders, to the implementation of policy changes. …

Power Projection And Counter-Terrorism: Strategies For Small States Like Brunei Darussalam, Brice Tseen Fu Lee, Gulshan Bibi Ms

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This study delves into the intricacies of power projection strategies and counter-terrorism measures, emphasizing their relevance to small states, with a specific focus on Brunei Darussalam. Using a dual matrix model, the research categorizes various strategies based on risk-reward parameters, offering a structured insight into potential approaches these states can employ against potential aggressors. The counter-terrorism matrix is the initial focal point, recognizing the contemporary significance of terror threats and their unique challenges for small nations. Subsequently, the power projection matrix offers a broader view of defense tactics beyond counter-terrorism. By synthesizing information from primary academic sources, the study aims …

Single And Not Ready To Mingle: The Potential Gentrification Of Student Housing, Anna L. Peters, Lou L. Sabina, Maureen M. Mcclure, Kiara L. Sabina, Claudine Mclaren-Turner, Marcus Silver

Journal of Global Education and Research

As higher education tuition continues to rise in the United States and globally, other costs impacting students, such as fees, parking, and housing, are rising at a similar pace. Concurrently, more higher education institutions are focusing on creating boutique experiences for students, including the option for single-unit housing. This paper analyzed the costs associated with single-unit housing at the ten largest college campuses in the United States compared to the costs associated with multi-unit housing and off-campus living. The changes in preferences for students associated with their college experiences, when partnered with higher costs of living and off-campus housing, create …

Environmental Justice And Low-Income Residents Of Houston Texas: The Inequities Of Catastrophic Weather Event Recovery Left Out And Expendable - Again, Carmen Danielle Reed

Dissertations (2016-Present)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Coastal Management, from 2017-2021, the United States has averaged 17.2 annual climate/weather disasters. In 2021 alone, the U.S. experienced 20 billion-dollar disasters and since 1980, the U.S. has experienced 341 climate/weather disasters which in toto, resulted in $2.155 trillion in losses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is authorized under The Stafford Act, to be the lead federal agency tasked to help people after disasters specifically floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and forest fires. In anticipation of increased climate driven disaster, for FY 2021, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee allocated to FEMA $25.89 …

Learning About Street Harassment On Transit: A Survey Instrument For Transit Agencies, Asha Weinstein Agrawal, Jon Canapary, Carol Anne Caroll, Tam J. Guy, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris

Mineta Transportation Institute

This study was conducted in accordance with California Senate Bill 1161 (2022), legislation that directed the Mineta Transportation Institute to develop a reliable, easy-to-use survey instrument for collecting information from public transit passengers about the extent, location, and characteristics of any street harassment they experience. Although the legislation is focused on large California transit agencies, the study findings are equally relevant to smaller agencies and agencies outside the state. To develop the recommended questionnaire, we reviewed literature about street harassment, analyzed transit passenger surveys to explore the questions asked about safety and harassment, received feedback on iterative drafts of the …

Low-Carbon Frontier: Renewable Energy And The New Resource Boom In Western China, Tyler Harlan

Urban and Environmental Studies Faculty Works

China's west has long been framed as an undeveloped frontier, set apart by poverty and a resource-based economy. Since the 2000s, however, utility-scale renewable energy infrastructure has expanded rapidly in western China, promising local economic benefits tied to national low-carbon transition. This paper contends that these benefits have been precarious and unevenly distributed. I argue that utility-scale renewable energy has remade western China as a “low-carbon frontier,” a resource-rich region that generates low-carbon value for the national green economy. I highlight three features of low-carbon frontiers: they are constructed as spaces of exploitable low-carbon resources, creating an investment boom; they …

An Analysis Of Racially Disparate Impacts On Housing For The City Of Tukwila, Washington, Neil Tabor

Community and Regional Planning Program: Professional Projects

The housing crisis within the Pacific Northwest of the United States has prompted action from Washington legislators, resulting in Governor Inslee identifying housing as a key priority and the legislature passing a number of forward-thinking bills in the last half decade, requiring the allocation of more resources, and asking more of jurisdictions to address current housing needs and anticipated future growth. Layered within the planning efforts for future growth are concerns and considerations for the potential of new housing development to perpetuate and exacerbate societal inequities built on discriminatory housing policies and practices of generations past and present. In an …

Oregon Transportation Plan: Innovations In The Exploratory Scenario Planning Approach, Adam Argo, Jonathan Slason

PSU Transportation Seminars

This seminar reviews the recently-adopted Oregon Transportation Plan and the process and innovations that underpinned the analysis to identify a preferred set of investments and actions to support the vision and goals of the plan. The plan used innovative methods for communicating how investment strategies may affect regions or example households across the state. Funding is a key influence on how the plan by identifying the affects of inadequate funding and identifying how investment priorities change if funding increases. The Statewide VisionEval strategic travel model was used to conduct an exploratory scenario planning process that informed the relationships between funding, …

Evaluating The Responsiveness Of Urban Security In The University Area, Varshini Renikunta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Perceptions of safety within one's neighborhood can significantly impact overall health. While certain neighborhood features like broken sidewalks, crime rates, and visible disorder can influence these perceptions, the exact interplay of these factors remains unclear, especially among individuals with disabilities who might perceive themselves at greater risk. Individuals typically opt for routes and spaces they deem safe in the built environment, such as well-lit pathways, areas next to lively storefronts instead of closed facades, or routes that steer clear of potentially unsafe building entrances. How individuals navigate and interact with their surroundings is intrinsically tied to their cognitive perceptions shaped …

Before Showtime, Amy Kaler

The Goose

In this piece of creative nonfiction, I reflect on the experience of having time on my hands in peri-urban spaces that are characterized by transience, liminality, and contingency, while waiting for performance time at youth cheerleading competitions. I describe walking around these places, specifically Las Vegas and Abbotsford (BC). I connect my experience to other accounts of aimless wandering, such as the "derive" of psychogeography, and note the ways in which the exercises of power and potential world-ending catastrophe are present, but latent, in these landscapes. In particular, I consider the historic cold-war threat of a nuclear bomb as well …

Economic Impact Of The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District On The Regional Economy, 2014-2022, Mark Henning, Randall Jackson, William M. Bowen

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD), the largest conservancy district in Ohio, initiated a significant, multi-year capital improvement plan in 2014 in response to increasing revenues associated with Utica Shale development. This study used input-output analysis to estimate the regional economic impact of MWCD’s spending on infrastructure improvements and related operations from 2014 through 2022. Cleveland State University’s Energy Policy Center found that MWCD’s $182.1 million in capital spending during the study period resulted in $486.8 million of gross output (total economic activity of all sales/revenues), $221.9 million of value added (gross output minus intermediate inputs), $135.6 million in labor …

Urban Flood And Its Correlation With Built-Up Area In Semarang, Indonesia, Risty Khoirunisa, Bambang Darmo Yuwono

Smart City

The expansion of urban areas is closely related to environmental problems such as changes in land use, flooding, and land subsidence. Semarang is a city with reasonably rapid development and a high land change experiencing floods and land subsidence. This paper will discuss land transformation caused by urban growth and its implications. It uses a combination of geospatial techniques and cloud computing Google Earth Engine (GEE) to carry out mapping over a large area without being constrained by computer capabilities. This study found that the built-up area in 2010 occupied 36.27% of the city, and it went up to 59.79% …

Validating The Correlation Between Illuminance, Nighttime Crash Frequency And Demographic Characteristics On Roadway Segments In District 7, Florida, Aditi Sugeerappa Hoti

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For a long time, streetlights have proved to be an effective tool to help users access roads safely. Hindrance to good visibility at nighttime has been attributed to accidents on the road. Florida is considered to have very dangerous roads due to careless driving which increases as nighttime approaches. Much empirical research has contributed to the attention nighttime crashes receive. This study examines the influence of roadway characteristics along with socio-economic factors on crashes through statistical and spatial analysis of roadway segments in Tampa Bay Region. Illuminance data, crash data and socio-economic data for roadways facing nighttime crashes under low-illuminance …

The Great Resignation: An Exploration Of Strategies To Combat School Bus Driver Shortages In The Post-Covid-19 Era, James E. Cole Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Leading school transportation providers have been turning toward data-driven incentive programs to engage, motivate, and get the best out of their school bus drivers, but the nationwide school bus driver shortage has emerged as a pressing issue of critical importance affecting the education system, transportation infrastructure, and safety of students across the United States. School bus driving is one of the most challenging driving jobs, and low wages, demanding schedules, stringent licensing requirements, and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the shortage of drivers. Identification of strategies to improve school bus driver retention was the objective of this qualitative phenomenological study. …

Refining The Machine Learning Pipeline For Us-Based Public Transit Systems, Jennifer Adorno

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

According to the Population Division of the United Nations, in the United States, almost 90% of the population will live in urban areas by the year 2050. As the population in a given area increases, higher traffic congestion follows due to an increase of vehicles in the road. A possible way to alleviate congestion could be with widespread use of public transit. However, according to the US Census Bureau, the percentage of individuals commuting through public transportation has been decreasing steadily over time, and the American Community Survey reports that during 2019, only around five percent of the US population …