Willamette University

Extreme heat is an increasing hazard in communities across the world due to climate change and urbanization patterns resulting in urban heat. Transportation infrastructure, such as road pavement, is a well-known contributor to the urban heat island effect. Engineered pavement coatings, known as cool pavement, reflect light and heat to reduce the thermal load of roads and reduce urban heat, but their effect on heat stress, and therefore human thermal comfort, of travelers such as pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders, is still an underexplored area. The City of Tucson, Arizona, applied a cool pavement pilot of the PlusTi asphalt rejuvenator in 2021 as a part of its Parks and Connections Bond. Previous studies on cool pavement asphalt rejuvenators have found inconsistencies in the magnitude of their cooling properties in the lab versus real-world settings. We conducted a before-after natural study design to evaluate the impacts of the cool pavement application on indicators of heat stress, including ambient air temperature (TA) and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT). Once temporal autocorrelation is accounted for, we found that the PlusTi asphalt rejuvenator resulted in 0.11 °C (0.2 °F) more TA observed and no statistical difference in WBGT, indicating minimal negative impacts to heat stress indicators in this natural experiment setting. Continued evaluation of cool pavement products is critical to better understand their potential in mitigating urban heat and ensuring minimal negative impacts on heat stress indicators.

Organizations often endure across multiple generations of members-and what one generation preaches may not always align with what another generation practices. We demonstrate that people attribute such inconsistency to hypocrisy, even when over half a century separates the practicing and preaching. Five experiments and three supplemental studies demonstrate this intergenerational hypocrisy effect (N = 4,482). Organizations were perceived as more hypocritical, their actions seemed less legitimate, and people were more motivated to protest against them when the organization's words and deeds were (vs. were not) misaligned across generations of members. We test several moderators, and find that to attenuate the intergenerational hypocrisy effect, organizations can attribute their word-deed inconsistency to moral principles that they paid a tangible cost to uphold. The results suggest that organizations risk reputational damage in a wider array of situations than previously appreciated.

Abstract The shifting legal landscape of drug regulation in the United States has been marked by a growing divergence between state and federal approaches to cannabis and psychedelics. In recent years, numerous states have passed laws legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana and exploring the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, such as psilocybin and MDMA. At the same time, these trends are juxtaposed against rising opposition and legislative rollback, particularly in states like Oregon, where decriminalization efforts have been reversed. This article provides a comprehensive review of current drug policy developments, focusing on cannabis and psychedelics at the state level, the evolving federal stance under the Biden administration, and the potential impact of a second Trump term. It also explores the challenges and successes of state initiatives, the FDA’s evolving role in regulating substances like MDMA and esketamine, and the broader implications for public health and criminal justice. As the country navigates the complexities of drug rescheduling and reform, future federal policies under new leadership could further reshape the landscape of drug legalization and therapy in the United States.

PremiseUnderstanding genetic and morphological variability helps efforts to sustain landscapes and develop effective species concepts for resolving difficult groups. To unravel puzzling relationships and range disjunctions, we applied morphometrics, phenology, phylogenetics and population genetics in Camassia species with cultural, ecological, and conservation value, asking: Do the unusual Camassia populations in northeastern California represent previously unrecognized, disjunct C. howellii? Do C. howellii, C. leichtlinii, and C. quamash maintain diagnostic features in allopatry or sympatry? Are C. quamash subsp. breviflora and subsp. linearis taxonomically distinct?MethodsWe evaluated 34 Camassia populations in situ for morphometric traits, phenology, and habitat type, collecting tissue for population microsatellite and phylogenetic analyses (rpl16, trnD‐trnT). Fieldwork and genetic analyses of Camassia species allowed hypothesis testing of all criteria.ResultsOregon and California populations of C. howellii shared 94–95% morphospace but differed significantly from C. leichtlinii and C. quamash, primarily in having more basal leaves, subglobose fruits, and smaller flowers that open in mid‐late afternoon, closing at sunset without reopening. Both microsatellite and phylogenetic data indicated separation of the three species, with slight genetic differentiation between the disjunct populations of C. howellii. Subspecies of C. quamash differed morphologically and genetically, with clear phylogenetic separation.ConclusionsIntegrative approaches proved effective, affirming disputed species identities and upholding subspecific status for C. quamash subsp. linearis. For C. howellii, population genetic differentiation between disjunct regions appears congruent with phylogenetic analyses. Slight morphological differentiation of Oregon and California populations is consistent with geographic isolation, implying subspecific genetic divergence worthy of future study.

Software vulnerability exploitation remains a issue, as studied by various governmental, academic, and industrial institutions. Secure coding education is an important process for reducing software vulnerabilities. Various approaches have been studied, many with positive success, though students still tend to graduate with security knowledge deficiencies. Previous work has been done to study how large language models, attention/cognitive predictors, and code analyzers independently impact education environments. We propose the creation of a Cognitive-Aware Visual Studio Code Plugin for Vulnerability Feedback (CAPV). This system would use a static code analysis tool to analyze code for software vulnerabilities, cognitive data collected from eye-trackers and webcams, and large language models to create effective, context-aware vulnerability feedback for programmers. The cognitive data could also be used to inform vulnerability mitigation strategies. We plan to develop this plugin and evaluate its ability to reduce software vulnerabilities and improve secure coding abilities and knowledge.

This full research paper describes our proposed software vulnerability analysis and feedback pedagogical tool to help students understand and reduce the vulnerabilities introduced in their produced software. Despite a growing emphasis on secure coding in education, students in computing courses frequently introduce software vulnerabilities in their submissions. Prior work focuses on developing software vulnerability detection tools or curriculum changes that require secure coding expertise. We introduce Pedalogical, a web-based platform combining code security analysis with AI-generated feedback for improved secure coding. Feecback is produced using a static analysis tool supplemented with Large Language Model (LLM) responses to provide tailored feedback based on the student's code and the learning outcomes of the assignment. Pedalogical offers varying levels of feedback to provide students with actionable fixes or conceptual guidance depending on their proficiency. A proposed study is discussed across multiple CS courses at two universities. Students would be asked to submit their course assignments to both the learning management system in which they would be graded as normal for functionality, and also to the Pedalogical platform to be given feedback on the software vulnerabilities found in their code. The goal is to analyze whether AI-generated vulnerability feedback leads to improved secure coding practices in students and a reduction of vulnerabilities in assignment submissions. Data is planned to be collected from static analysis reports, LLM prompts and responses, student code submission diffs, student engagement metrics, and pre/post-study surveys. Our findings could have implications for computer science and cybersecurity curriculum design.

The incorporation of theatre in language learning has long been shown to increase students’ sense of belonging and to promote academic and personal success. While previous case studies largely focus on activities and performances that are conducted entirely in the target language, this article discusses the theatre class at the University of Oregon which collaboratively creates and performs a Russian-English bilingual play each year. Following a brief overview of the program, the article examines the winter 2024 production of The Shadow, Julia Nemirovskaya’s adaptation of the classic Soviet play by Evgenii Shvarts. The study draws on the text of the play, class activities, interviews with the instructors and students, and the author’s own personal experience as a volunteer member of the cast to highlight the unique benefits of a bilingual production. The use of both Russian and English enhances the inclusive nature of the theatrical experience. Students of all levels of experience take away valuable linguistic and cultural lessons; the most valued aspect, however, is the community it builds, bringing diverse students together and strengthening the language community.

Understanding how laying hens interact with functional resources-such as drinkers, feeders, perches, nest boxes, and wintergardens-is essential for meeting their physiological needs and enabling species-specific behaviors. This knowledge is crucial for poultry welfare assessments and precision livestock management. However, traditional ethological data collection methods, including direct observation and manual video analysis, are labor-intensive, prone to observer bias, and impractical for individual-level tracking. To overcome these challenges, we developed and validated an RFID-based system for automated, non-invasive tracking of individual hens' visits to key resources, using an established ArUco-based video annotation system as the reference standard. For validation, twenty-one laying hens were fitted with RFID leg bands and 3D-ArUco markers and monitored over five days in a mobile barn setup equipped with ultra-high-frequency RFID antennas. Alignment between data from the RFID and 3D-ArUco systems allowed calculation of performance metrics such as the F1-score-defined as the harmonic mean of precision and sensitivity-for visit durations and event detections (i.e., entries and exits), and the coefficient of determination (r²) for visit counts. Wintergarden showed the highest performance (84 % F1-score, 93 % r²). Metal perch achieved F1-scores of 79 % and 86 % for access and leaving events. Nest boxes showed intermediate performance (78 % F1-score, 77 % r²), while drinkers and feeders were lower (64 % F1-score each; r² values of 69 % and 49 %). These findings confirm RFID's potential for tracking visits to wintergardens, perches, and nest boxes-demonstrating sufficient performance for practical use, though further optimization through antenna positioning remains possible. For feeders and drinkers, however, accurate tracking remains challenging, and complementary technologies may be required, as rapid movements reduce tag dwell time, overcrowding causes signal interference, and open areas increase misreads from nearby surrounding movement. This study highlights RFID's value for behavioral research at the individual level in poultry and supports research-driven innovation in housing equipment design. It also demonstrates how a computer-assisted approach can facilitate validation across diverse behavioral contexts.

“Correlation does not equal causation” is perhaps the most familiar phrase to any student or instructor in an Introductory Psychology class. While short and pithy, we argue that this phrase and its variants can lead to confusion among students, who may incorrectly interpret it to mean that “correlation cannot mean causation.” Unfortunately, this misinterpretation trades one type of reasoning error (incorrectly drawing a causal conclusion from a correlational study) for a separate type of reasoning error (incorrectly concluding there cannot be a causal relationship reflected in a correlational study). Drawing on patterns of student responses on an exam question targeting this issue, we demonstrate that this latter reasoning error is observed in over 30% of Introductory Psychology students. We end by proposing a set of possible sources of this confusion and call on instructors of Introductory Psychology to develop and assess methods to better teach this scientific reasoning skill.

Abstract A growing demand for herbal products is an opportunity for US growers to add diversity and high value crops into current rotations. Temperate tulsi ( Ocimum × africanum ) is a suitable crop for increased domestic production. In this study, we assessed how harvest frequency and harvest method influenced tulsi yield, quality, and total time to harvest. We assessed three distinct methods of harvest: (1) hand harvest, (2) mechanical harvest with a small plot combine, and (3) mechanical harvest with a swather. We paired these harvest methods with two levels of harvest frequency: a single cut per season and a double cut per season. This study was replicated in 2022 and 2023. We found no significant differences in tulsi yield when comparing hand harvest to either of the mechanical methods. Hand harvest took significantly more time compared to both mechanical methods. Quality was measured as eugenol content in dried plant material. Although eugenol means were higher overall in 2023, no clear trends emerged in the effect of harvest method or harvest frequency on eugenol content. Further research should explore how other agronomic practices can affect tulsi quality. The potential extension of this research to “true” tulsi, Ocimum tenuiflorum , and the inclusion of additional agronomic factors could help us better understand and optimize domestic tulsi production.