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Analysis of 2018 Human Trafficking Location Data from skipthegames.com
Get PDFComputer science students in the Shiley School of Engineering complete a capstone project during their senior year. The project discussed here is a result of a collaboration between the Global Emancipation Network (GEN), an industry nonprofit group, and the University of Portland. GEN works to combat human trafficking through analysis of data gathered from a variety of sources and this capstone project worked to look at a subset of data scraped from the escort website skipthegames.com to see if any important trends could be found which could later be applied to prevent human trafficking. The web postings on the website advertised potential trafficking victims for sex work, and these posts were analyzed to correlate users with shared identification information between posts. Itineraries of potential movement of trafficking victims between locations were created to highlight any major trafficking corridors which can show geographical areas for law enforcement focus and reveal patterns of trafficking victim travel that can later contribute to identifying and intervening in specific situations. This capstone project shows the potential of working with large datasets scraped from the web to gather information that can be used to combat human trafficking
Finding Global Warming Potential of Greenhouse Gases Using Cross-Sectional Infrared Spectroscopy
Get PDFInfrared Spectra were taken of carbon dioxide gas to calculate Radiative Forcing (RF) through IR cross-section analysis, as a beginning of the creation of a new Physical Chemistry laboratory series that investigates Greenhouse Gases and leads students to calculate Global Warming Potential (GWP). The average RF value was 4.29 x 10-4, compared to a literature3 value of 1.4 x 10-5 W m-2. Refinement of the experimental setup must occur as next steps in this research, in order to test more gases (nitrous oxide and methane) and to calculate their GWPs
Ruthenium-Catalyzed Ring-Opening/Ring-Closing Metathesis Polymerization
Get PDFPolymerization reactions, which create a repeating chain of subunits, are crucial in the development and understanding of many essential materials and biological molecules. This research focuses on the mechanism of a polymerization reaction of monomers containing a cycloalkene and alkyne, which rearrange into a diene subunit under the influence of a ruthenium-based catalyst. This research examines why some monomers successfully polymerize while other similar monomers fail. Computational chemistry techniques (density functional theory) are used to study the mechanism and reactivity of each monomer. Our results show that the productive polymerization reaction competes with a side-reaction in which the catalyst reacts only with the alkyne, shutting down polymerization. A general model has been developed from the results to predict the reactivity of monomers based on the molecular geometry
Distal Limb Pressure Device
Get PDFLymphedema is a medical condition associated with venous insufficiency that causes swelling in the distal limbs, generally starting at the ankles. Lymphedema affects roughly 4 million Americans today and can be caused by a number of factors, including injury, aging, diabetes, and pregnancy. The severity of lymphedema is classified into four stages, and the more severe the stage, the higher risk of experiencing additional side effects including infections, skin ulcers, and reduced locomotion capabilities in the afflicted limb. Depending on the severity of lymphedema, various treatment options are available, including exercise, elevation, and compression for lower stages and surgery or diuretics for more severe stages. Current compression methods directed towards alleviating the symptoms of lymphedema include compression stockings and inflatable trousers. While compression stockings allow the user to be mobile, they are difficult to put on and take off, and the constant pressure application can cause skin ulcers and intertrigo, or rashes. On the other hand, inflatable trousers provide sequential or alternating pressure, which reduces the risk of developing ulcers; however, they require immobilization of the user. Therefore, the scope of this project was to design and develop a wearable and mobile device that could supply sufficient sequential pressure to the leg. The team opted to use airbags as the medium to apply the required pressure
Imitating Life
No full textMedium: Pen and watercolors on paper.
Description: Replication of real leaf using watercolors.https://pilotscholars.up.edu/thaynecovert_exhibit/1022/thumbnail.jp
Street After Dark
No full textMedium: Pen and watercolors on paper.
Description: Painting based on photograph taken in South Korea by a friend studying abroad. Seoul, South Korea.https://pilotscholars.up.edu/thaynecovert_exhibit/1020/thumbnail.jp
Enduring Norepinephrine
No full textMedium: Wood, rope, brass pulleys, stepper motor and Arduino motor controller.
Dimensions: 32 x 32 x 9
Sitting down to grade papers and exams is one of the more arduous tasks for a teacher. More specifically, starting the task is just plain uncomfortable.
Recent experiments in neuroscience suggest that when a person begins to focus their attention on a mentally challenging task, levels of norepinephrine elevate in the brain, creating several minutes of discomfort. When levels diminish, the uncomfortable feeling dissipates and cognitive circuits begin to function more effectively.
This machine to helps me push through the initial wave of norepinephrine. Only at the end of a ten minute period will the metal wings on this wooden clock fully extend....and by that time, I am well on my way.https://pilotscholars.up.edu/pitzer_exhibit-2/1003/thumbnail.jp
The NCAA’s Optical and Philosophical Problem
Get PDFThe NCAA has long been known for its use of specific terminology to perpetuate its brand. However, it has begun to go a step further in recent years as it is beginning to spin a visual narrative to go with its terminology. Examples such as the artifact used in this paper, the 2019 March Madness Tournament advertisement, spin a misleading tale that the NCAA is attempting to use to hide key realities about its handling of college athletes. This paper with specifically analyze how the NCAA tries to perpetuate the lives of their athletes as well has how the organization provides opportunities for people of color
Increasing the identification of Hepatitis C and referral to treatment in primary care through a medical assistant driven workflow
Get PDFThe purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to increase Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) screening and identification through the implementation of universal screening for HCV with a Medical Assistant (MA) workflow as provider prompt. This QI project evaluated the effectiveness of universal HCV screening in a federally qualified health center (FQHC), community health center (CHC), patient centered medical home serving primarily Medicaid, Medicare and uninsured patients. HCV is a major cause of chronic liver disease throughout the world. It now causes more deaths than any other infectious disease in the United States (US). Costs associated with its treatment are significant and increasing. Therefore, early identification through screening and referral to treatment are essential in preventing the spread of the disease and reducing disease related morbidity and mortality. Methods: Implementation of universal screening for HCV through an MA driven workflow to identify the need for screening and as a provider prompt. Results: The number of HCV at-risk patients screened increased from 1,144 to 1,393, (x2 = 7.96, p = .0048), representing 21.8% increase in the eight weeks post implementation. The screening rate for all clinic patients increased from 27.1% to 32.2% (x2 = 26.598, p \u3c . 00001). Additionally, referrals to HCV treatment increased from 314 to 442 (x2 = 5.507, p = .0189), representing a 40.8% increase. Conclusion: This MA driven universal HCV screening workflow demonstrated the effectiveness of a simple, cost-effective practice change in improving the identification of HCV and referral to treatment