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• 41. [Article] Combining Sensor Monitoring and Ethnography to Evaluate Household Latrine Usage in Rural India

  This paper advances research on methods used to evaluate sanitation usage and behavior. The research used quantitative and qualitative methods to contribute to new understanding of sanitation practices ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Combining Sensor Monitoring and Ethnography to Evaluate Household Latrine Usage in Rural India Author: O'Reilly, Kathleen, Louis, Elizabeth, Thomas, Evan A., Sinha, Antara Year: 2015 This paper advances research on methods used to evaluate sanitation usage and behavior. The research used quantitative and qualitative methods to contribute to new understanding of sanitation practices and meanings in rural India. We estimated latrine usage behavior through ethnographic interviews and sensor monitoring, specifically the latest generation of infrared toilet sensors, Portland State University Passive Latrine Use Monitors (PLUMs). Two hundred and fifty-eight rural households in West Bengal (WB) and Himachal Pradesh, India, participated in the study by allowing PLUMs to be installed in their houses for a minimum of 6 days. Six hundred interviews were taken in these households, and in others, where sensors had not been installed. Ethnographic and observational methods were used to capture the different defecation habits and their meanings in the two study sites. Those data framed the analysis of the PLUM raw data for each location. PLUMs provided reliable, quantitative verification. Interviews elicited unique information and proved essential to understanding and maximizing the PLUM data set. The combined methodological approach produced key findings that latrines in rural WB were used only for defecation, and that low cost, pit latrines were being used sustainably in both study areas. Title: Combining Sensor Monitoring and Ethnography to Evaluate Household Latrine Usage in Rural India Author: O'Reilly, Kathleen, Louis, Elizabeth, Thomas, Evan A., Sinha, Antara Year: 2015 This paper advances research on methods used to evaluate sanitation usage and behavior. The research used quantitative and qualitative methods to contribute to new understanding of sanitation practices and meanings in rural India. We estimated latrine usage behavior through ethnographic interviews and sensor monitoring, specifically the latest generation of infrared toilet sensors, Portland State University Passive Latrine Use Monitors (PLUMs). Two hundred and fifty-eight rural households in West Bengal (WB) and Himachal Pradesh, India, participated in the study by allowing PLUMs to be installed in their houses for a minimum of 6 days. Six hundred interviews were taken in these households, and in others, where sensors had not been installed. Ethnographic and observational methods were used to capture the different defecation habits and their meanings in the two study sites. Those data framed the analysis of the PLUM raw data for each location. PLUMs provided reliable, quantitative verification. Interviews elicited unique information and proved essential to understanding and maximizing the PLUM data set. The combined methodological approach produced key findings that latrines in rural WB were used only for defecation, and that low cost, pit latrines were being used sustainably in both study areas. Close

• 42. [Article] Network Indicators of the Social Ecology of Adolescents in Relative and Non-Relative Foster Households

  Though the presence, composition, and quality of social relationships—particularly as found in family networks—has an important influence on adolescent well-being, little is known about the social ecology ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Network Indicators of the Social Ecology of Adolescents in Relative and Non-Relative Foster Households Author: Blakeslee, Jennifer E., Kothari, Brianne H., McBeath, Bowen, Sorenson, Paul, Bank, Lew Year: 2017 Though the presence, composition, and quality of social relationships—particularly as found in family networks—has an important influence on adolescent well-being, little is known about the social ecology of youth in foster care. This study examined the social networks of foster youth participating in a large RCT of an intervention for siblings in foster care. Youth reported on the people they lived with and the relatives they were in contact with, which provided indicators of network size, composition, and relationship quality. Cluster analysis was used to identify five family network profiles for youth living in foster homes. Two identified subgroups reflected robust family networks where youth were living with relative caregiver(s) and related youth, and also reported multiple family ties outside the household, including with biological parents. The remaining three profiles reflected youth reports of fewer family connections within or beyond the foster household, with distinctions by whether they lived with siblings and/or reported having positive relationships with their mothers and/or fathers. The identified network profiles were validated using youth- and caregiver-reported measures of mental health functioning, with increased caregiver report of post-traumatic stress symptoms indicated for the three subgroups that were not characterized by a robust family network. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd Title: Network Indicators of the Social Ecology of Adolescents in Relative and Non-Relative Foster Households Author: Blakeslee, Jennifer E., Kothari, Brianne H., McBeath, Bowen, Sorenson, Paul, Bank, Lew Year: 2017 Though the presence, composition, and quality of social relationships—particularly as found in family networks—has an important influence on adolescent well-being, little is known about the social ecology of youth in foster care. This study examined the social networks of foster youth participating in a large RCT of an intervention for siblings in foster care. Youth reported on the people they lived with and the relatives they were in contact with, which provided indicators of network size, composition, and relationship quality. Cluster analysis was used to identify five family network profiles for youth living in foster homes. Two identified subgroups reflected robust family networks where youth were living with relative caregiver(s) and related youth, and also reported multiple family ties outside the household, including with biological parents. The remaining three profiles reflected youth reports of fewer family connections within or beyond the foster household, with distinctions by whether they lived with siblings and/or reported having positive relationships with their mothers and/or fathers. The identified network profiles were validated using youth- and caregiver-reported measures of mental health functioning, with increased caregiver report of post-traumatic stress symptoms indicated for the three subgroups that were not characterized by a robust family network. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd Close

• 43. [Article] Household Water Filter Use Characterization in Rural Rwanda: Signal Interpretation, Development and Validation

  Access to safe drinking water is an important health factor in many developing countries. Studies have shown that unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation practices leads to diarrheal disease, which is ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Household Water Filter Use Characterization in Rural Rwanda: Signal Interpretation, Development and Validation Author: Tellez Sanchez, Sarita Lucia Year: 2016 Access to safe drinking water is an important health factor in many developing countries. Studies have shown that unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation practices leads to diarrheal disease, which is one of the leading causes of death of children under five in developing countries. Provision and proper use of household water filters have been shown to effectively improve health. This thesis is focused on the refinement and validation of algorithms for data collected from pressure transducer sensors that are used in household water filters (the Vestergaard Frandsen LifeStraw Family 2.0) deployed in Rwanda by the social enterprise DelAgua Health. Statistical and signal processing techniques were used to detect the use of the LifeStraw water filters and to estimate the amount of water filtered at the time of usage. An algorithm developed by Dr. Carson Wick at Georgia Institute of Technology was the baseline for the analysis of the data. The algorithm was then refined based on data collected in the SweetLab at Portland State University, which was then applied to field data. Laboratory results indicated that the mean error of the improved algorithm is 11.5% as compared with the baseline algorithm mean error of 39%. The validation of the algorithm with field data yielded a mean error of 5%. Errors may be attributed to real-world behavior of the water filter, electronic noise, ambient temperature, and variations in the approximation made to the field data. This work also presents some consideration of the algorithm applied to soft-sided water backpacks. Title: Household Water Filter Use Characterization in Rural Rwanda: Signal Interpretation, Development and Validation Author: Tellez Sanchez, Sarita Lucia Year: 2016 Access to safe drinking water is an important health factor in many developing countries. Studies have shown that unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation practices leads to diarrheal disease, which is one of the leading causes of death of children under five in developing countries. Provision and proper use of household water filters have been shown to effectively improve health. This thesis is focused on the refinement and validation of algorithms for data collected from pressure transducer sensors that are used in household water filters (the Vestergaard Frandsen LifeStraw Family 2.0) deployed in Rwanda by the social enterprise DelAgua Health. Statistical and signal processing techniques were used to detect the use of the LifeStraw water filters and to estimate the amount of water filtered at the time of usage. An algorithm developed by Dr. Carson Wick at Georgia Institute of Technology was the baseline for the analysis of the data. The algorithm was then refined based on data collected in the SweetLab at Portland State University, which was then applied to field data. Laboratory results indicated that the mean error of the improved algorithm is 11.5% as compared with the baseline algorithm mean error of 39%. The validation of the algorithm with field data yielded a mean error of 5%. Errors may be attributed to real-world behavior of the water filter, electronic noise, ambient temperature, and variations in the approximation made to the field data. This work also presents some consideration of the algorithm applied to soft-sided water backpacks. Close

• 44. [Article] Comparison of Respondent-reported and Sensor-recorded Latrine Utilization Measures in Rural Bangladesh: A Cross-sectional Study

  Background: Health improvements realized through sanitation are likely achieved through high levels of facilities utilization by all household members. However, measurements of sanitation often rely on ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Comparison of Respondent-reported and Sensor-recorded Latrine Utilization Measures in Rural Bangladesh: A Cross-sectional Study Author: Delea, Maryann G., Nagel, Corey L., Thomas, Evan A., Halder, Amal K., Amin, Nuhu, Shoab, Abul K., Freeman, Matthew C., Unicomb, Leanne, Clasen, Thomas F. Year: 2017 Background: Health improvements realized through sanitation are likely achieved through high levels of facilities utilization by all household members. However, measurements of sanitation often rely on either the presence of latrines, which does not guarantee use, or respondent-reported utilization of sanitation facilities, which is prone to response bias. Overstatement of sanitation metrics limits the accuracy of program outcome measures, and has implications for the interpretation of related health impact data. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 213 households in 14 village water, sanitation and hygiene committee clusters throughout rural Bangladesh and used a combined data- and relationship-scale approach to assess agreement between respondent-reported latrine utilization and sensor-recorded measurement. Results: Four-day household-level respondent-reported defecation averaged 28 events (inter-quartile range [IQR] 20–40), while sensor-recorded defecation averaged 17 events (IQR 11–29). Comparative analyses suggest moderately high accuracy (bias correction factor=0.84), but imprecision in the data (broad scatter of data, Pearson’s r=0.35) and thus only weak concordance between measures (ρc=0.29 [95% BCa CI 0.15 to 0.43]). Conclusions: Respondent-reported latrine utilization data should be interpreted with caution, as evidence suggests use is exaggerated. Coupling reported utilization data with objective measures of use may aid in the estimation of latrine use. Title: Comparison of Respondent-reported and Sensor-recorded Latrine Utilization Measures in Rural Bangladesh: A Cross-sectional Study Author: Delea, Maryann G., Nagel, Corey L., Thomas, Evan A., Halder, Amal K., Amin, Nuhu, Shoab, Abul K., Freeman, Matthew C., Unicomb, Leanne, Clasen, Thomas F. Year: 2017 Background: Health improvements realized through sanitation are likely achieved through high levels of facilities utilization by all household members. However, measurements of sanitation often rely on either the presence of latrines, which does not guarantee use, or respondent-reported utilization of sanitation facilities, which is prone to response bias. Overstatement of sanitation metrics limits the accuracy of program outcome measures, and has implications for the interpretation of related health impact data. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 213 households in 14 village water, sanitation and hygiene committee clusters throughout rural Bangladesh and used a combined data- and relationship-scale approach to assess agreement between respondent-reported latrine utilization and sensor-recorded measurement. Results: Four-day household-level respondent-reported defecation averaged 28 events (inter-quartile range [IQR] 20–40), while sensor-recorded defecation averaged 17 events (IQR 11–29). Comparative analyses suggest moderately high accuracy (bias correction factor=0.84), but imprecision in the data (broad scatter of data, Pearson’s r=0.35) and thus only weak concordance between measures (ρc=0.29 [95% BCa CI 0.15 to 0.43]). Conclusions: Respondent-reported latrine utilization data should be interpreted with caution, as evidence suggests use is exaggerated. Coupling reported utilization data with objective measures of use may aid in the estimation of latrine use. Close

• 45. [Article] Behavioral Reactivity Associated With Electronic Monitoring of Environmental Health Interventions-A Cluster Randomized Trial with Water Filters and Cookstoves

  Subject reactivity—when research participants change their behavior in response to being observed—has been documented showing the effect of human observers. Electronics sensors are increasingly used to ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Behavioral Reactivity Associated With Electronic Monitoring of Environmental Health Interventions-A Cluster Randomized Trial with Water Filters and Cookstoves Author: Thomas, Evan A., Tellez-Sanchez, Sarita, Wick, Carson, Kirby, Miles Year: 2016 Subject reactivity—when research participants change their behavior in response to being observed—has been documented showing the effect of human observers. Electronics sensors are increasingly used to monitor environmental health interventions, but the effect of sensors on behavior has not been assessed. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial in Rwanda among 170 households (70 blinded to the presence of the sensor, 100 open) testing whether awareness of an electronic monitor would result in a difference in weekly use of household water filters and improved cookstoves over a four-week surveillance period. A 63% increase in number of uses of the water filter per week between the groups was observed in week 1, an average of 4.4 times in the open group and 2.83 times in the blind group, declining in week 4 to an insignificant 55% difference of 2.82 uses in the open, and 1.93 in the blind. There were no significant differences in the number of stove uses per week between the two groups. For both filters and stoves, use decreased in both groups over four-week installation periods. This study suggests behavioral monitoring should attempt to account for reactivity to awareness of electronic monitors that persists for weeks or more. Title: Behavioral Reactivity Associated With Electronic Monitoring of Environmental Health Interventions-A Cluster Randomized Trial with Water Filters and Cookstoves Author: Thomas, Evan A., Tellez-Sanchez, Sarita, Wick, Carson, Kirby, Miles Year: 2016 Subject reactivity—when research participants change their behavior in response to being observed—has been documented showing the effect of human observers. Electronics sensors are increasingly used to monitor environmental health interventions, but the effect of sensors on behavior has not been assessed. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial in Rwanda among 170 households (70 blinded to the presence of the sensor, 100 open) testing whether awareness of an electronic monitor would result in a difference in weekly use of household water filters and improved cookstoves over a four-week surveillance period. A 63% increase in number of uses of the water filter per week between the groups was observed in week 1, an average of 4.4 times in the open group and 2.83 times in the blind group, declining in week 4 to an insignificant 55% difference of 2.82 uses in the open, and 1.93 in the blind. There were no significant differences in the number of stove uses per week between the two groups. For both filters and stoves, use decreased in both groups over four-week installation periods. This study suggests behavioral monitoring should attempt to account for reactivity to awareness of electronic monitors that persists for weeks or more. Close

• 46. [Article] Subjective Retelling: The Influence of External and Individual Factors on the Folktales of the Brothers Grimm

  Since a first edition of Children’s and Household Tales was published in 1812, the work of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm has been read, told, watched, and referenced all over the world. When the Grimms initially ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Subjective Retelling: The Influence of External and Individual Factors on the Folktales of the Brothers Grimm Author: Woodhouse, Katherine R. Year: 2017 Since a first edition of Children’s and Household Tales was published in 1812, the work of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm has been read, told, watched, and referenced all over the world. When the Grimms initially set out to construct the famous anthology, they intended to objectively uncover a breadth of traditional German folktales, preserving them in their purest possible forms. These stories, the brothers believed, held the essence of the nation’s declining culture and collective identity. However, the assumption that the stories of Children’s and Household Tales holistically represent the genuine German history and dialogue of oral storytelling is inaccurate. This paper explores a variety of factors that influenced what stories were actually published: a reality that may not have aligned with the brothers’ initial ideals. Title: Subjective Retelling: The Influence of External and Individual Factors on the Folktales of the Brothers Grimm Author: Woodhouse, Katherine R. Year: 2017 Since a first edition of Children’s and Household Tales was published in 1812, the work of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm has been read, told, watched, and referenced all over the world. When the Grimms initially set out to construct the famous anthology, they intended to objectively uncover a breadth of traditional German folktales, preserving them in their purest possible forms. These stories, the brothers believed, held the essence of the nation’s declining culture and collective identity. However, the assumption that the stories of Children’s and Household Tales holistically represent the genuine German history and dialogue of oral storytelling is inaccurate. This paper explores a variety of factors that influenced what stories were actually published: a reality that may not have aligned with the brothers’ initial ideals. Close

• 47. [Article] An Exploratory Path Analysis of Attitudes, Behaviors and Summer Water Consumption in the Portland Metropolitan Area

  We examined the underlying attitudinal and behavioral factors of summer water consumption among Portland Metropolitan Area households by combining survey responses from households and corresponding empirical ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: An Exploratory Path Analysis of Attitudes, Behaviors and Summer Water Consumption in the Portland Metropolitan Area Author: Straus, Jonathan, Chang, Heejun, Hong, Chang-yu Year: 2016 We examined the underlying attitudinal and behavioral factors of summer water consumption among Portland Metropolitan Area households by combining survey responses from households and corresponding empirical water consumption data. Path analysis shows that pro-conservation attitudes regarding water usage (even when controlling for property size and other demographic variables) were strong predictors of actual reductions in summer water consumption. Furthermore, these self-reported attitudes appear to directly impact specific water consumption behaviors identified in the survey, with potentially significant impact in two of three key areas of water conservation strategies: landscaping, adapting conservation technology, but not habitual use. We draw implications for focused educational programs promoting awareness of water conservation issues and monitoring their impacts and efficacy. Title: An Exploratory Path Analysis of Attitudes, Behaviors and Summer Water Consumption in the Portland Metropolitan Area Author: Straus, Jonathan, Chang, Heejun, Hong, Chang-yu Year: 2016 We examined the underlying attitudinal and behavioral factors of summer water consumption among Portland Metropolitan Area households by combining survey responses from households and corresponding empirical water consumption data. Path analysis shows that pro-conservation attitudes regarding water usage (even when controlling for property size and other demographic variables) were strong predictors of actual reductions in summer water consumption. Furthermore, these self-reported attitudes appear to directly impact specific water consumption behaviors identified in the survey, with potentially significant impact in two of three key areas of water conservation strategies: landscaping, adapting conservation technology, but not habitual use. We draw implications for focused educational programs promoting awareness of water conservation issues and monitoring their impacts and efficacy. Close

• 48. [Article] Indicators of the Metroscape: Housing Cost Burden

  Elizabeth Morehead focuses on the percentage of households spending 30 percent or more of their income on housing.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Indicators of the Metroscape: Housing Cost Burden Author: Morehead, Elizabeth Year: 2016 Elizabeth Morehead focuses on the percentage of households spending 30 percent or more of their income on housing. Title: Indicators of the Metroscape: Housing Cost Burden Author: Morehead, Elizabeth Year: 2016 Elizabeth Morehead focuses on the percentage of households spending 30 percent or more of their income on housing. Close

• 49. [Article] Hiding Private Locations by Anonymizing Data

  Researchers explore ways of masking private locations in the interest of making useful data publicly available.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Hiding Private Locations by Anonymizing Data Author: Clifton, Kelly J., Gehrke, Steven R. Year: 2015 Researchers explore ways of masking private locations in the interest of making useful data publicly available. Title: Hiding Private Locations by Anonymizing Data Author: Clifton, Kelly J., Gehrke, Steven R. Year: 2015 Researchers explore ways of masking private locations in the interest of making useful data publicly available. Close

• 50. [Article] Portland MSA Regional Economic Outlook, April 2017

  NERC's biannual forecast of employment, income, housing permits, and house prices for the Portland MSA. The April release also includes the annual forecast of population and households.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Portland MSA Regional Economic Outlook, April 2017 Author: Potiowsky, Thomas, Portland State University. Northwest Economic Research Center Year: 2017 NERC's biannual forecast of employment, income, housing permits, and house prices for the Portland MSA. The April release also includes the annual forecast of population and households. Title: Portland MSA Regional Economic Outlook, April 2017 Author: Potiowsky, Thomas, Portland State University. Northwest Economic Research Center Year: 2017 NERC's biannual forecast of employment, income, housing permits, and house prices for the Portland MSA. The April release also includes the annual forecast of population and households. Close