Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Washington State: Residents' Opinions and Perceptions of Effects Five Years after Implementation

Beltz, Lindsey Marie Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2019 해외박사(DDOD)

Washington became one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis in 2012. Its residents are now in a unique position to evaluate the lived effects of a monumental shift in the state's drug law. This project assessed the effects of cannabis law reform as perceived by Washington residents, tested a newly designed measure of cannabis use that could increase the accuracy of national data, and explored concerns, opinions, and use in the context of recreational legalization. Data collection included a representative, random-sample survey of Washington residents (n=538) aimed to further understanding of the effects of legalization and a non-representative survey utilizing an online panel to experimentally test whether how we ask about cannabis use impacts people's answers.Overall, positive effects were the most frequently reported when residents were questioned about what effects they have noticed as resulting from legalization. These included decriminalization, economic benefits, and destigmatization. People remain concerned about drugged driving and increased use, although initial evidence does not support these concerns. Washington residents' perspective also revealed issues related to location and visibility of dispensaries and advertising. Overwhelmingly, however, residents' responses were positive.It is imperative that accurate self-report data are collected to know whether legalization increases rates of cannabis use. Experimental tests show that, in states where cannabis has not been legalized for recreational use, using the words "marijuana and hashish" in a survey question resulted in lower reported rates of use than the words "any cannabis products." This is likely due to the stigma associated with the term marijuana compared to cannabis. These results indicate that national surveys may produce inaccurate estimates of rates of cannabis use.Washingtonians generally remain supportive of recreational legalization. Opinions that have changed since the vote in 2012 tend now to be more positive. Use may have become more commonplace, but few new users have been created. Some report decreasing their alcohol use by substituting cannabis and 38% said the same about opioid use, providing evidence for substitution effects. While opinion is positive and stigma has lessened, pockets of resistance to legalization remain and are similar to national trends.

Cyber-Physical System Security of a Smart Grid

Sun, Chih-Che Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2019 해외박사(DDOD)

The integration of computing and communication capabilities with the power grid has led to numerous vulnerabilities in the Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs). This cyber security threat can significantly impact the physical infrastructure, economy, and society. In traditional Information Technology (IT) environments, there are already abundant attack cases demonstrating that unauthorized users have the capability to access and manipulate sensitive data from a protected network domain. Electric power grids have also heavily adopted IT to perform real-time control, monitoring, and maintenance tasks. In both 2015 and 2016, two sophisticated cyber attack events targeted Ukrainian’s power grid, causing wide area power outages. It highlights the importance of investment in cyber security against intruders. In order to address the cyber security issues for today’s communication technologies, a reliable cyber defense system has become an essential element for the power grids. This dissertation presents research results of the CPS security studies for different power system sections, including Substation Automation System (SAS) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). To understand the vulnerabilities of communication systems and interactions between cyber and physical systems, a survey of the state-of-the-art on smart grid technologies has been conducted. It considers the existing cyber vulnerabilities in power grids and establishes solutions against the cyber attacks. However, the existing cyber protection systems can not cover all sections of a smart grid by one defense measure. This study proposes two Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) to enhance the cyber security for SAS and AMI. In order to analyze the impact of cyber attacks and test the performance of the proposed IDSs, a Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) testbed has been developed to provide a co-simulation environment between cyber and physical systems.

State and Phase Transitions and Quality Changes in Frozen Starch-Rich Foods

Krishna Kumar, Pavitra Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2019 해외박사(DDOD)

The frozen food industry is growing at a tremendous rate, owing to changes in lifestyle and increased purchasing capacity among consumers. The science and technology of food freezing has advanced very well- ice crystal visualization and control of crystal growth, assisted freezing technologies and improved freezing processes have led to frozen foods with better stability and properties during their shelf life. However, there is loss in quality of frozen food due to unavoidable temperature fluctuations during handling, storage and transportation. Based on their characteristic thermal transition temperatures, food matrices undergo changes in state and phase during temperature fluctuation from the frozen state, leading to ice recrystallization: there is repeated melting and refreezing of ice crystals in frozen food, leading to change in their number, size, shape and location within the food. As a result, there is loss in the physical, chemical and microbial quality of the food. In this study, frozen starch-rich foods, namely potato and rice have been chosen. The thermal transition parameters of these foods have been determined, and phase and state transitions have been induced by temperature fluctuations. The resulting ice recrystallization has been examined microscopically. The accompanying changes in hardness of potato and in starch retrogradation enthalpy of rice have been measured. The results indicate that the extent of ice recrystallization relates well with state/phase transitions in potato and rice. However, there is no impact on hardness in potato as a result of temperature fluctuation. Also, there is reduction in the starch retrogradation enthalpy of rice as a result of temperature fluctuation during frozen storage. Hence, starch-rich foods are less sensitive to temperature fluctuations compared to protein (e.g. fish) and sugar-rich (e.g. mango) foods. The study will lead to an optimized frozen storage management e.g. during the commercial handling of a wide variety of frozen foods, foods such as ice cream, fish etc. that are more susceptible to the implications of temperature fluctuation could be placed closer to evaporator, where there is less temperature fluctuation, while foods such as French fries and sushi etc. could be placed closer to doors of the cold room, where there is more temperature fluctuation, due to repeated opening and closing of the door.

Mechanical design and field evaluation of a robotic apple harvester

Davidson, Joseph Ryan Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2016 해외박사(DDOD)

Every apple destined for the fresh market is picked by the human hand. Despite substantial research to develop robotic apple harvesters, there are no robotic systems commercially available. The highly unstructured orchard environment has been a major challenge to the development of commercially viable robotic harvesting systems. The absence of mechanical harvesters is a significant concern due to rising production costs and increasing uncertainty about the future availability of manual labor. This dissertation presents the mechanical design of a robotic apple harvester. The overall approach implemented was to advance performance, as measured by speed and harvesting efficiencies, by simplifying the harvesting task. A custom, seven degree-of-freedom manipulator was designed, fabricated, and then integrated with a picking end-effector. The end-effector, which is the only system component that makes contact with the fruit, is an underactuated, passively compliant design that grasps the fruit with a spherical power grasp. The end-effector prototype was extensively analyzed in the lab prior to field testing and shown to be robust to perception error. Prior to field testing, a global camera was integrated with the mechanical system in order to execute open loop, go-to picking with no intermediate visual servoing. The system was then evaluated in a commercial apple orchard in Prosser, Washington. Robotic manipulation adopted 'undersensed' picking methods developed through dynamic analysis of the hand picking process. Because modern, planar orchard systems were selected for field studies, substantial computational resources were not dedicated to motion planning. Detailed performance criteria were used to report results, and each significant task in the harvesting process was individually timed to help focus future efforts at reducing cycle time. The system successfully picked 127 of the 150 fruit attempted for an overall success rate of 84%. The average picking time was 6.0 sec per fruit. These fruit detachment efficiencies and execution times represent an approximately 3 sec improvement in performance levels reported for robotic apple harvesters. However, substantial challenges to commercial implementation still remain. An overview of future work needed to address some of these challenges is included in the summary.

Psyllid ecology and biodiversity in the Pacific Northwest

Castillo Carrillo, Carmen Isabel Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2016 해외박사(DDOD)

Potato is the fourth-most-valuable commodity in Washington State. The emergence of zebra chip disease ("ZC") has triggered economic losses in the U.S. Pacific Northwest ("PNW") with a ca. 7% increment in the total cost of potato production, endangering the economic viability of the region. The vector of the ZC pathogen, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum ("Lso") is the potato psyllid ("PP"), Bactericera cockerelli (S˘ulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae). The overall aim of my research was to study the PP ecology on a non-crop host, bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara L.) ("BN"), and determine presence of Lso. Chapter 1 is an introduction of the importance of ZC. Chapter 2 presents the population dynamics of PPs living BN in Eastern Washington in 2012-2013. A high population and reproduction of PPs was found on BN, higher than the numbers usually found in potato fields. Molecular analyses found an apparent absence of Lso in these PPs and plants, while revealing that all PP collected were of the Northwestern COI-haplotype. Other agricultural pests were found living on BN. Chapter 3 describes the predator community found (> 40 species), which could be reducing PP. The dominant taxa were Araneae (> 70% of all predators) and predator mites (Anystidae) (> 15% of all predators found). Observations of predator activity revealed PP egg consumption by the tiny coccinellid Stethorus punctillum Weise and attack of PP nymphs by the parasitoid Tamarixia triozae (Burks). Chapter 4 presents a checklist of the Psylloidea superfamily found in the PNW. To know the diversity of psyllid species in this region I compile the published registers and the specimens housed in PNW entomological museums. The list presents 124 species from 25 genera; 35 species are new reports in the PNW. Chapter 5 contains a scientific note about the thrips species found during my sampling of BN patches; I report these species that could have been living on BN or on the surrounded plants. Overall, my results show a complex community of PP, other agricultural pests, and predators living on BN, alongside the apparent absence of the Lso bacterium in PP and BN.

Action Research for Behavioral Theory Building:Six Sigma Success Factors

Almutairi, Thamer Nasser Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2020 해외박사(DDOD)

We conducted action research Six Sigma projects in the Tri-Cities, Washington, USA, region. These projects generated new theories. These theories were supported by the analysis of a survey of 736 manufacturers in Canada and the United States.First theory, the degree of project uncertainty moderates the impact of improved strategic project selection on Six Sigma project performance. we determined that this moderating effect should be negative since greater uncertainty in the project environment should lead to the project team sacrificing strategic project selection for more short-term results that are easier to attain in a reasonable timeframe and budget.Second, we conjectured a new construct Simultaneity of Thought for project team members that moderates the effects of the Use of Improvement Specialists and the Use of Structured Methods on project performance. We discovered also that Simultaneity of Thought is a significant associate of success, but not in a moderating fashion.Third, we show that these projects generated theory that matches the theories tested in the general team project management literature. the primary aim of this work is to perform a replication test of these theories in a Six Sigma project management environment.

Mental Health, Masculine Norms, and Marvel: How Exposure to the Avenger Movie Narratives and Identification with a Character Are Associated with Masculine Norms and Intentions to Seek Help

Booth, Alicia Marie Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2022 해외박사(DDOD)

Grounded in social cognitive theory and identification theory, this content analysis and survey looked further into relationships between mental health, masculine norms, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since social cognitive theory explains that people learn through observing social situations, our content analysis was performed and confirmed masculine norms were present in the four Avengers movies. While there are six main characters in these movies, performing a content analysis solidified our idea to use only two, Thor and Tony in our survey to further identification theory. In our survey, we used three masculine norms: winning, emotional control, and self-reliance. We found significant connections between the Avengers movies and the participant in all three masculine norms. Regarding identification, only the winning masculine norm and Tony were found significant. For mental health, watching the Avengers movies, and identification with Thor or Tony did not decrease mental health stigma perceptions nor increase mental health help seeking behaviors.

Productivity, Economics, and Soil Quality of Organic Quinoa Cropping Systems in The Pacific Northwest, USA

Wieme, Rachel Amber Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2019 해외박사(DDOD)

Volatile crop prices and desire for sustainability have farmers considering alternative practices to increase revenue diversity and protect soil health. Organic management is a rapidly expanding alternative to conventional agriculture, and quinoa is a potential new crop for organic systems in the Pacific Northwest. To improve the competitiveness and adoption by growers of organic quinoa and grain cropping systems, more detailed information is needed regarding the agronomic impacts, economic performance, and effects on soil quality of such systems. A 5-year study was conducted to evaluate these metrics in eight 3-year crop sequences in the Palouse region of Washington State. The 3-year sequences compared quinoa to spring wheat, each in rotation with barley and chickpea, and were part of a longer 8-year rotation with alfalfa. While crop sequence affected yields and crop quality, larger differences were caused by weather across years. Cumulative yields were higher when sequences started with chickpea compared to barley, which also led to higher economic returns. Organic quinoa yields were lower than the yield potential for the region, but some sequences with quinoa had similar economic returns to sequences with wheat. The organic cropping systems (total 8-year crop rotations including 5 years of alfalfa) were more profitable than a typical conventional rotation with county average yields during the same 8-year period. Soil nitrogen (N) decreased with time through the 3-year sequences, but there was sufficient N to support high grain yields in the last year of the sequence when weather conditions allowed. Colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was lowest in quinoa, and AMF colonization of crops following quinoa was lower than when they followed wheat. However, the moderate rates of AMF colonization observed in quinoa are noteworthy as quinoa is generally thought to be non-mycorrhizal. The results show that dryland organic grain systems supported by multiple years of alfalfa can be financially and agronomically viable in the Palouse region due to economic premiums and N cycling through crop residues. Advances in organic weed control and regionally suited quinoa varieties would further reduce the risk for farmers attempting this cropping system diversification.

Forecasting Cattle (Bos taurus) Depredation Risk by Recolonizing Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) in Washington

Hanley, Zoe Lizbeth Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2017 해외박사(DDOD)

Preventing wolf-livestock conflicts requires identifying conditions placing livestock at risk and focusing outreach and adaptive management at a local scale. Risk mapping has become a popular tool to predict and display livestock depredation risk by carnivores worldwide. To date no maps predicting livestock depredation risk exist for the Northern Rocky Mountain gray wolf (Canis lupus) population. Historical (i.e. 1991 -- 2008) data from Idaho and Montana were used to predict cattle depredation risk by gray wolves recolonizing Washington. Risk models were developed at two spatial scales, (1) wolf pack territory (n = 137) and (2) cattle grazing allotment (n = 69) to test hypotheses that cattle depredations by wolves were associated with wolf demographics, cattle and wild prey abundance, allotment characteristics, and land cover types. Within wolf pack territories, cattle depredation risk increased as cattle abundance and adult wolf removal increased and if the pack depredated the previous year. Adult wolf removal and pack size showed weaker evidence in their relationship with cattle depredation probability and the predicted number of cattle depredated. Similarly, cattle depredation risk increased for larger grazing allotments with more cattle, wolves, and grassland cover and decreased with pack reproduction and a later cattle turnout date. Wolf pack reproduction, cattle turnout date, and percent grassland cover indicated high variability in the direction of their relationship with cattle depredation probability and the predicted number of cattle depredated. Forecast maps for Washington identified hotspots of high (81 -- 90%) depredation risk in Yakima, Kittitas, and Columbia counties. Cattle grazing allotments only occur east of the Cascade Mountains, and hotspots in Okanogan, Ferry, and Yakima counties were recognized as intermediate (61 -- 80%) depredation risk. These risk models and maps provide locations to focus depredation prevention measures and a template for future analyses as wolves continue to recolonize Washington.

Molecular biology and epidemiology of grapevine leafroll-associated viruses

Donda, Bhanu Priya Washington State University ProQuest Dissertations 2016 해외박사(DDOD)

Studies were conducted on molecular biology and epidemiology of grapevine leafroll-associated viruses infecting wine grape (Vitis vinifera) cultivars in Washington State. In the first objective, the complete genome sequence of two isolates of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1 (GLRaV-1, genus: Ampelovirus, family Closteroviridae ) was determined to be 18,731 and 18,946 nucleotides. The genome of GLRaV-1 isolates contain nine open reading frames with long 5' and 3' non-translated regions (NTRs). The sequence differences in the 5'NTR was used to develop a restriction fragment length polymorphism assay for distinguishing GLRaV-1 variants in vineyards. Northern blot hybridization revealed the presence of three of the eight putative 3' co-terminal subgenomic (sg) RNAs at higher levels in virus infected grapevine samples. The 5' termini of five sgRNAs were mapped and their leader sequences determined. The results provided a foundation to further elucidate the comparative molecular biology of grapevine-infecting members of the family Closteroviridae.. In the second objective, the spread of grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) was monitored for several seasons in vineyard blocks planted with three red-berried wine grape cultivars. Grapevines exhibiting GLD symptoms in these blocks were tested positive for Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3, genus: Ampelovirus, family Closteroviridae ). The temporal spread of GLD indicated higher number of symptomatic vines in each season compared to previous seasons, suggesting increased incidence of the disease during successive seasons. The spatial distribution of symptomatic vines in all three blocks indicated a disease gradient in which the highest percentage of symptomatic vines were present in rows closest to old vineyard blocks showing GLD symptoms. Spatial autocorrelation (dependence) analysis indicated random distribution of symptomatic vines during initial years of post-planting suggesting primary spread and clustering of symptomatic vines during subsequent years suggesting secondary spread of GLD. Sequence analysis of a portion of the heat-shock protein 70 homolog gene encoded by GLRaV-3 revealed predominance of one of the several genetic variants of the virus in the three vineyard blocks. These results provided for the first time science-based knowledge on nature of the spread of GLD in young vineyards to pursue site-specific disease management strategies under conditions prevailing in Washington State.