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A Veblenian Approach to Chaos Theory
Get PDFThis paper provides a comparative analysis of Veblen\u27s belief in disequilibrium, the field of chaos theory, and how these two frameworks connect. We explore the similarities and differences between Veblen\u27s theories and the principles of chaos theory, including their shared emphasis on complexity and unpredictability. By analyzing the connections between Veblen\u27s economic theories and chaos theory, we can gain a deeper understanding of the nature of disequilibrium and the complex forces that shape our world
Trauma in the Middle Ages: The Viking Experience of Trauma through Saga
Get PDFTrauma is a fundamental part of human experience and the ways in which human beings experience trauma differs drastically depending on the time and culture represented. Research on trauma in the Middle Ages does exist, however, often offers windows into very narrow intersections within the study of historical trauma. Other cultures and particularly oral traditions lack the same attention from scholars in trauma. The specific experience of Vikings as referenced in the oral tradition of sagas offers a unique window into the traumatic experience of Vikings as well as how they responded to trauma. This unique response to trauma is important for us to study because of what it can say about the current understanding of trauma today. The study of historical trauma in European communities as well as Viking culture through sagas show us ways in which trauma and trauma treatment exists outside of medical context and lessons that can be applied today in the treatment of trauma on societal and individual levels
Who Belongs and Why It Matters: Belonging at an Oregon Elementary School
Get PDFStudent sense of belonging is at the foundation of student outcomes with impacts reaching far beyond the walls of the elementary school classroom. This study investigates factors that shape students’ sense of belonging at an Oregon elementary school where Youth Truth survey data over the past three years have revealed a lack of sense of belonging amongst students. Correlates to the low sense of student belonging were identified via a root cause analysis process with students, staff and families. As a result of the root cause analysis, a theory of improvement was developed with input from students, staff and families. The methodology employs Improvement Science principles. Change ideas to improve classroom community and reduce the use of exclusionary practices were developed and tested via Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles. The implementation of school-wide class meetings and the restructuring of the protocol for students being sent outside of the classroom for support aimed at increasing student belonging at the study site in order to build a more inclusive and supportive school culture. The results from this study included a reduction in time out of class and suggest an opportunity for future improvements to reported student sense of belonging
Not Just an Ad: Exploring Exposure, Persuasion Knowledge, and Health Misinformation on Social Media
Get PDFThis study explores how exposure to sponsored health and fitness content on social media influences users\u27 perceptions of influencer motivation and belief in health-related misinformation. Drawing on parasocial interaction (PSR), attribution theory, and influencer marketing research, this study investigates two hypotheses: that frequent exposure to branded content is positively associated with (1) perceptions of influencers as commercially motivated and (2) belief in pseudoscientific health myths. A cross-sectional online survey (N = 104) was conducted using convenience sampling of adult social media users. Results partially supported the first hypothesis: exposure frequency was positively correlated with recognition of persuasive intent, but not with deeper conceptual understanding of influencer marketing. The second hypothesis was not supported. Exploratory analyses revealed that perceived trustworthiness--but not expertise--was positively correlated with belief in detox and fasting myths, suggesting that emotional connection may outweigh rational evaluation in influencer contexts. Confidence in recognizing sponsored content was associated with greater persuasion knowledge but did not predict resistance to misinformation. These findings highlight the complexity of influencer-audience dynamics and suggest that while exposure fosters awareness of persuasive intent, trust and emotional resonance remain potent drivers of misinformation acceptance. Future health communication efforts must address not only recognition of sponsored content, but also the identity-based and aesthetic appeals that make misinformation compelling
You Are What You Eat: Religion, Meat, and the Moral Dilemma
Get PDFIn the last twenty-five years, the Muslim population of Canada has tripled. The value of the Canadian halal food market is now estimated to exceed one billion dollars. In 2021, eight in ten Indian adults reported that they restrict their meat eating in some way for a cultural reason. The same year, 34% of Americans surveyed—Jewish and non-Jewish—said they bought kosher meat out of a concern for food safety. At first glance, the world’s meat market is far from religious. But upon closer inspection, one can see that the history of meat eating is not only about survival but also about cultural bonds, personal health, and the theological clash between good and evil. The variances in meat consumption between the Islamic, Jewish, and Hindu faiths distinctly display these themes. These behaviors surrounding meat eating demonstrate, on a small scale, what it is to be a human being in a society, and how our everyday actions indicate our deeper desire to do “right.”
Panel info: High Stakes: Faith, Control and Consumption Moderator: Professor Natan Mei
Faculty Senate Monthly Packet May 2025
Get PDFThe May 2025 monthly packet includes the agenda, appendices, and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments given in the meeting held May 5, 2025
Towards an Explicit Understanding of Network Governance in Urban Forestry Management: A Case Study of Portland (OR), USA
Get PDFAs the climate continues to warm, and municipal leaders look for cost-effective and timely approaches to urban sustainability, one increasingly sought-out approach is the use of tree canopy to cool neighborhoods. Despite widespread efforts to expand tree canopy in cities, an overwhelming body of evidence suggests that urban green space is declining across the U.S., yet little is known about the factors that propel these changes. Understanding the institutional and governance systems can help identify the opportunities for slow consistent declines. Using social network analysis (SNA) metrics, we examined stakeholder roles in power structures and decision-making processes within Portland, Oregon’s urban forest management. Our results reveal a highly decentralized urban forestry network (density = 0.0079), with weak cohesion (5.4%) among 162 stakeholders. Moving forward, while network governance may face obstacles from conflicting interests among community and interagency groups, transforming governance models at all levels will require developing periodic, collaborative urban forestry management plans to address nature-based planning challenges. These planning documents should strongly emphasize not only the prioritization of tree equity-related ordinances but also the optimization of eco-literacy and awareness through virtual reality (VR) technology. As a novel approach, immersive simulations demonstrate practical potential for showcasing urban forestry benefits in network governance outreach and consensus-building
Exploring Natural Competence of \u3ci\u3eEscherichia coli\u3c/i\u3e Through Biofilm Formation
Get PDFEscherichia coli is a species not known for natural competence; however, specific growth conditions can induce the process in this bacterium due to the presence of homologous competence genes. These conditions could be met with biofilm formation through an active growth phase in the two-layer architecture. Therefore, my thesis examined whether natural competence is exhibited in E. coli during biofilm formation as determined by the genetic transfer of ampicillin and chloramphenicol-resistance genes between two separate strains. The experiments were broken into three aims to determine the morphology of the biofilm in inter-strain co-cultures and cell-DNA mixes, the effect of media supplementation on antibiotic resistance marker transfer, and the role of biofilm formation on genetic exchange. I found distinct pink, dry, and rough (pdar) morphology for inter-strain co-cultures and cell-DNA mixes when at least one of the strains was able to synthesize cellulose for biofilm formation. Co-cultures and mixes with strains unable to synthesize cellulose only displayed irregular concentric circles of growth around the periphery. The types of growth medium influenced the morphology and growth rate of biofilms with co-cultures grown on CaCl2 -supplemented Congo Red medium displaying distinct pdar and wrinkled morphology and faster growth on double selective plates (ampicillin/chloramphenicol). Mixing purified genomic DNA from a strain containing one antibiotic resistance marker with an intact bacterial strain with the opposite marker resulted in a higher occurrence of doubly resistant bacterial colonies compared to co-cultures made through mixing of two intact bacterial strains. However, whole genome sequencing of a colony isolate from ampicillin and chloramphenicol double selection showed the presence of only one of the two antibiotic resistance markers, indicating the transfer of genetic markers might be transient or non-recombinogenic. Further research is required to determine the mechanism for the presentation of double antibiotic resistance
Woofs and Warbles: The Influence of Urban Dog Walking on Birdsong
Get PDFRecreational activity in natural areas can disrupt songbird singing during critical learning or courtship periods, increasing the risk of fitness and population declines in sensitive species. Local data on birdsong disturbance caused by recreation can guide management efforts protecting wildlife, such as signage, leash laws, and dog walking bans. This study assessed bird vocalization responses to groups with and without dogs in urban greenspaces. Surveys were conducted in Fall 2024 at three parks in Portland, Oregon, with varying rates of dog and human presence. Throughout two-hour observation periods, bird vocalization activity of seven songbirds was recorded at five-minute intervals and as recreational user groups crossed a 29 m trail segment. Dog presence was associated with the highest singing cessation and least chips/calls across all species. Species other than Song Sparrows were least likely to sing with dogs present; Song Sparrows followed this trend at a park with minimal dog activity, but sang more when groups had dogs at the park with the highest dog activity, suggesting habituation to frequent encounters. Birds vocalize less in the presence of recreational groups, and dogs, in particular, can intensify this response in some species. Reduced birdsong and increased singing cessation associated with dog walking indicate a continued need for leash-only or dog-restricted urban parks