The issue of global climate change and possible remedies has been debated between national governments since the 1970s. While some countries have adopted aggressive measures to address the issue, others have lagged in their efforts. The United States, as a key player in global climate change conferences, has focused its...
Immunocontraception targeting the zona pellucida shows promise as a safe, effective and economically feasible method for controlling feral horse populations that roam public rangelands throughout the United States. The efficacy of porcine zona pellucida (pZP) vaccines to generate high titers can be evaluated with an indirect immunofuorescence assay or a...
Toxicological studies show that oral doses of nickel can cause allergic contact dermatitis, and routes of exposure, such as nickel leached from stainless steel cookware are not well characterized. In this study, four variables: grade of stainless steel, cook time, stainless steel seasoning or cooking cycles, and commercial tomato sauces,...
Most animals are active either during the day, night, or twilight, and transition periods between these times exhibit interesting behavior. Actions may be related to avoiding predators, seeking shelter, defending territory, feeding, or other interests. Herbivorous fishes on coral reefs, such as parrotfishes, forage constantly throughout daylight periods due to...
Some studies have found that responses are faster when the orientation of an object’s graspable part corresponds with the response location than when it does not (i.e., the object-based correspondence effect). We examined Goslin et al.’s (2012) claim that the effect is the result of object-based attention (visual-action binding). As...
Adequate energy stores are essential for animal survival, and sophisticated neuroendocrine mechanisms evolved to stimulate foraging in response to nutrient deprivation. Food search behavior is usually investigated in young animals, and it is not known how aging alters this behavior. To address this question in Drosophila, we compared the ability...
Throughout Oregon State University, a permanent, publicly-owned art collection not only exists under the radar of most people's awareness, this collection is part of a state mandate in existence since the late 1970's and too manages to slip most people's awareness at all. It is the Percent for Art Collection,...
We found that a strains of Yersinia pestis (KIM5) which lacked the nhaA gene was fully attenuated in a plague model. This gene produces a protein of the sodium-proton antiporter family which expel sodium ions from the bacterial cytoplasm in exchange for hydrogen ions, or protons, from the surrounding environment....
The process of expressing a gene involves not just binding of proteins and enzymes to DNA to produce first RNA and eventually proteins, but rather association of these transcription factors with chromatin and structural proteins called histones. When histone H3 is trimethylated at lysine 27 to produce H3K27me3, gene silencing...
Farensoid X Receptor (FXR) is a very flavoring protein for the treatment and prevention of the many conditions related to metabolic syndrome. Our experiment explores the binding activities of FXR when introduced to various natural and synthetic ligands. Currently, an initial assay showing the Stern-Volmer relationship of our date supports...
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is directly involved in breast cancer (BC) metastasis, as well as the severity of metastatic tumors. Excess PTH, caused by insufficient dietary calcium, may be an important and preventable factor affecting BC metastasis to bone. PTH levels increase with age in most women, largely due to insufficient...
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent immunosuppressant, and suppresses many disease models including graft-versus-host (GVH), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and a model of type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice (1-3). In this study, we show that the inflammation of the pancreas due to insulitis is not a systemic autoimmune...
Genetic and environmental factors influence individual cancer risk. Mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes increase colon cancer risk. Exposure to carcinogens, including the ubiquitous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), also is associated with increased cancer risk. To understand the combined effects of both environmental exposures and genetic risk, we investigated...
Buses can be impractical for those who must adhere to a strict schedule or depend on them for emergencies. While variations from the official bus schedule are understandable and largely unavoidable, a lack of communication discourages adoption at a rate disproportionate with their actual likelihood. Even if a bus is...
The steroid hormone estrogen plays a crucial role in regulating certain mammalian tissues, especially female reproductive systems. Estrogen effects physiological changes in the cell by altering transcription activity for certain target genes, as a consequence of interactions between estradiol-17β (E2) and its nuclear receptor (nER). This mechanism of cellular control...
Institutionalized oppression is a large multifaceted system that is regularly unrecognized and misunderstood. Marilyn Frye’s birdcage analogy of oppression (1983) demonstrates why this complex system is often invisible, yet always immobilizing. In this analogy, Frye relates the various manifestations of oppressions to the wires of a birdcage, demonstrating that it...
Summary
Recent research has identified Retinoid-X-Receptorα (RXRα), a nuclear receptor involved in ligand mediated transcription, as having a protective function against the malignant transformation of melanocytes after treatment with chemical carcinogens. This study used mice selectively lacking keratinocytic RXRα in combination with an oncogenic mutation, either Cdk4[Superscript R24C/R24C] or N-Ras[Superscript...
We compiled Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) and Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) locations in northwestern North America, consolidating data from multiple sources including nine U.S. State and Canadian Provincial jurisdictions. We assessed numbers of discrete locations, and analyzed distribution patterns temporally and spatially. Western Pond Turtle observation records ranged from...
The overall objective of this research was to determine which, if any, myosin XI proteins and exocyst proteins play a role in growth of Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyls and root hairs. This involved the study of whether exocyst and myosin proteins work together during cell expansion within these two plant parts....
The growth of a plant’s root system is essential for its survival. Preliminary observations suggest that a protein complex called the exocyst may play a role in the development of the root system by facilitating the growth of roots and root hairs. Previous work discovered a protein that potentially interacts...
POSTER ABSTRACT: This study seeks to diagnose systemic issues facing the Oregon State University (OSU) Student Sustainability Initiative (SSI) and identify solutions with the greatest potential to improve the program. This study has to potential to provide similarly sized, structured, and focused organizations with a starting place for their own...
The present study examined whether attention capture is driven by object saliency or contingent on top-down control setting using a go/no-go paradigm. Specifically, we investigated whether salient color singletons capture attention only when the target itself is also a singleton. We used a go/no-go task. Participants were told to search...
The NKUA1 is a Small Fission Surface Power (SFSP) space reactor intended for use in upcoming missions to Mars and the moon between the years 2020-2030. The concept of the reactor was created by Dr. Lee Mason and his research team in a joint effort between the Department of Energy...
Motivation
Relatively little is known about the evolution of mitochondrial genomes between Caenorhabditis species despite decades of research. Both the worldwide search for new nematode species and the effort to increase sequencing speeds require automated tools to quickly characterize and categorize large amounts of data.
Results
We developed an automated...
Many studies in recent literature have shown a significant link between the abnormalities of a newly born individual and the type of environment that their mothers encountered during pregnancy. More specifically, over the last two decades, a discipline of research commonly known as “fetal programming” has linked abnormalities at birth...
A compound series capable of reversing the antiviral effect of Ribavirin (RBV) against H1N1 was
identified from a high throughput screen designed to discover compounds capable of increasing the
fidelity of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) n ribovirus quasispecies. Two lead compounds,
RIC-1 (EC50 of 78.4 nM) and RIC-2 (EC50...
This project developed techniques and methods to measure single molecule conductance. Break gap junctions, used to measure electrical properties of single molecules, were explored. A Hewlett Packard mechanical nano-press was determined to be insufficient for creating a stable gap in which to conduct experiments. To avoid electromigration and bond annihilation...
Intensity beam profiles of a 633 nm laser off a super-polished glass surface were captured using surface polarization reflection. Profile capture can be difficult due to the relative intensities of molecular reflection versus macro reflection. Surface polarization reflection uses parallel polarized light incident at Brewster’s angle to extinguish macro reflection....
HafSOx is a dielectric material that also functions as an insulator. It is able to be
spin-coated onto a silicon substrate, creating a thin, amorphous film. It is very dense, which helps lead it to a high dielectric constant, making it ideal for electronic devices through the use of lithography....
This thesis presents a measurement of the resonance integral and thermal cross section – which together represent the total neutron absorption cross section – of the naturally occurring isotopes of platinum that emit gamma radiation upon neutron absorption. The measurements were made via neutron activation analysis. Platinum samples were bombarded...
Respiratory illnesses caused by both viral and bacterial infection are serious issues for global healthcare providers. With the emergence of new, drug-resistant forms of these diseases, innovative drugs and treatment therapies are needed. M tuberculosis is an infection that affects a large portion of the world’s population each year. Aerosol...
Social behavior such as play, affiliation, and some vocalizations of captive animals can be indicators of good welfare. Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) near Otjiwarongo, Namibia are often housed in social groups with various backgrounds. Observations of social and active behaviors were recorded for a group...
Abstract
Understanding the effects of climate change on forest ecosystems requires exploration of the relationships of different components of the system, such as the response of biota to local hydrology, temperature, precipitation, and elevation. The Long-term Ecological Research Program at the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, located in the Western...
New antibiotic compounds with novel mechanisms of action have become essential in response to the recent paradigm of increasingly resistant strains of bacteria. Secondary metabolites (natural products) from bacteria such as Actinobacteria serve as lead compounds for the development of pharmaceutical drugs widely used to fight bacterial, viral and fungal...
This research looks at the demographics, industry, and land use shifts over the past decades in the John Day Region of Eastern Oregon in order to better understand the shifting rural community in the United States. Census data was collected and analyzed to describe the shift. Published literature and interviews...
It has been observed and documented that Pisaster ochraceus has very striking colors, but the reasons behind the coloration are still unknown. Three coloration categories were determined and used for a feeding trial study to investigate the effects of diet on coloration in Pisaster ochraceus. This study involved 30 hand...
We examine a discrete-time quantum walk with two-step memory for a particle on a one-
dimensional infinite space. The walk is defined with a four-state memory space analogous to the
two-state coin space commonly used in discrete time quantum walks, and a method is presented
for calculating the time evolution...
Endogenous circadian clock regulation is essential to normal rhythmicity, particularly the timing of hormone release in the brain. In the context of mammalian reproduction, a surge of a specific hormone, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), initiates a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland, which is required for ovulation in...
Barley and cereal yellow dwarf viruses (B/CYDV) are a suite of aphid-vectored pathogens that affect diverse host communities, including economically important crops. Coinfection of a single host by multiple strains of B/CYDV can result in elevated virulence, incidence, and transmission rates. We develop a model for a single host, two...
The quorum sensing regulatory pathway has been extensively studied for its impact on the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen that causes acute and chronic infections in immunocompromised individuals such as those suffering from the genetic disorder cystic fibrosis. Part of the quorum sensing pathway that has not been...
In August of 2011, Jenny Minten came across an old coffin, complete with a skeleton, in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Scio lodge. After it was determined that the skeleton did not represent a modern forensic case, the remains were donated to the Oregon State University Anthropology Department....
The Global Formula Racing (GFR) team is an organization of student designers at Oregon State University (OSU) and at Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) in Germany working to create two race cars to compete in international competitions through the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The large scope of this project necessitates...
In his work, The Soul of Medicine: Tales from the Bedside, Dr. Sherwin Nuland utilized narratives from his colleagues detailing their encounters with their most remarkable patients in order to characterize what he refers to as “the soul of medicine”. However, the stories contributed focused on the practice of medicine...
Uranium is naturally radioactive and commonly found in water, soil, and rock. It can occur in elevated concentrations due to the presence of ore bearing bodies and be concentrated through human activities. This research focuses on uranium uptake for Capsicum annuum for three growing conditions. These include a set of...
A cross-cultural analysis of business practices based on video recordings of interviews with business professionals in both Oregon and Taiwan, with the intent of finding evidence to support or question current beliefs about cultural differences between American and Asian cultures. Particular focus is paid to business practices such as networking,...
This thesis describes the design and implementation of a Bluetooth controlled blimp with autonomous capabilities through Dead Reckoning. Reasonable research was conducted on current autonomous systems, wireless communication techniques, and suitable microprocessors that could handle the required processing. Building a remotecontrolled blimp requires a light understanding of mechanics to build...
The Willamette Valley, west of the Cascade mountain range in the state of Oregon, is home to a growing number of vineyards. This rather recent, booming industry of the region has become an important component of the economy of the state’s agriculture since the late 1960’s, contributing more than $1.56...
Accurate diagnosis is the most important step in identifying and curing diseases. There are no accurate low cost disease diagnostic tools available for developing countries. The use of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices and colorimetric analysis of an assay response could solve these issues. Several colorimetric liver assays have been demonstrated...
Rising CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere (396 ppmv as of April 2012)
increase the effect of global warming and climate change. CO₂ sequestration has become
a potential method to mitigate climate change. This study focuses on capillary/residual
trapping as a form of geologic CO₂ sequestration. Capillary/residual trapping occurs
when supercritical...
Purpose
In modern American society, educational television (ETV) plays an increasingly substantial role in the daily out-of-classroom education of the American youth and the decision to utilize youth based ETV is often in the hands of parents. However, many parents are unaware of the potential risks associated with early childhood...
Oxytocin was confirmed to have an impact of the PIP2 breakdown in ovine endometrial tissue. This experiment took two groups of ovariectomized ewes (n=5) and administered a shortened estrus cycle hormone regiment. It was found that, independent of the hormone treatments, especially P4, OT caused a small increase in the...
Abstract
Haptoglobin is an acute phase protein that is elevated in response to tissue damage and infections in dairy cows. The objectives of this study were to evaluate whether serum haptoglobin concentrations in the first week after calving can indicate disease status and severity, and whether haptoglobin concentrations are elevated...
Strong self-regulation in early childhood is a key predictor of academic and social success from elementary school through college (McClelland et al., 2012). This study analyzed the influence of the age of the child’s parent on the child’s self-regulation as measured by the HTKS (Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders) measure. Relations between children’s self-regulation...
Pisaster ochraceus occurs in a variety of colors; the major hues being orange, brown, and purple. Harley et al. (2006) found that in areas on the open Pacific coast, where Mytilus californianus was present, less than 10% of the population of P. ochraceus were purple whereas in areas of the...
Effective surface coatings for tissue-contacting medical devices should prevent both biofilm formation and infection. One method to achieve this aim is protein repellant polyethylene oxide (PEO) brush coatings loaded with antimicrobials. Previous research has demonstrated that the antimicrobial nisin adsorbs to PEO brush layers in multi-layer amounts and suggests that...
The purpose of this thesis is to examine and compare sustainable design methods used in the United States and Chile, focusing on sustainable materials and certification programs, to see if sustainable design methods used in the United States can be implemented in Chile to further its sustainable development. Through literature...
Myxobolus squamalis is a Myxozoan parasite of salmonids, which contributes to lowered fitness of hatchery and wild fish in the Pacific Northwest of North America. The only GenBank DNA sequence of M. squamalis is from Oncorhynchus tschawytscha (Chinook), but is not linked to a published morphological description. There is a...
Women are highly-underrepresented in undergraduate engineering majors, making up just over 15% of students in engineering and computer science at Oregon State University. High school girls' interest in pursuing engineering in college is affected by the way language frames engineering careers. The status-quo engineering frame is made up of terms...
This project examines the results of current-voltage conduction mechanism analysis techniques simulated under assumed conduction conditions. Thermionic emission and Fowler-Nordheim tunneling conditions are simulated and analyzed. The resulting plots show how devices behave under different condition mechanisms. The effects of different conduction mechanisms on the results of various analysis techniques...
Cob, similar to adobe, is an earthen building material made of soil, sand, and straw. Although cob was used to build homes in England centuries ago, it has reemerged as a sustainable and relatively inexpensive, alternative building material. A possible solution for housing in impoverished nations, cob needs to be...
The purpose of this thesis is to increase the positional accuracy of Global Position System (GPS) modules using an artificial intelligence algorithm. Three basic and identical GPS modules were setup in an equilateral triangle formation with side lengths of one meter. The triangle was placed in four separate locations where...
Climate change is a global factor that has been implicated in many behavioral alterations across various species. We speculate and observe the potential responses to the Plethodon shermani mating system induced from temperature changes, which may affect the ability of P. shermani to rely on external cues for mating season....
This audio file contains selections from Claire Sahlberg's senior vocal recital. She is accompanied on the piano by Beth Atchley. The recital was held at First Christian Church in Corvallis, OR. The following songs represent a portion of the recital. They are, in order: Tornami a Vagheggiar from G.F. Handel's...
An apparatus and method for calibrating planar laser induced fluorescence using a two-dye, two-color method was developed. A laser sheet was expanded from a 473 nm laser to excite dye solutions into higher energy states then fluoresced through spontaneous emission. The two fluorescent dyes selected for research and development were...
Between the years of 2006 and 2011, 183 marine mammal strandings were recorded and analyzed by the Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory at Oregon State University. Most of the strandings were of pinnipeds and porpoises. The species represented were California sea lion (69 animals), Steller sea lion (18 animals), harbor seal (42...
The current study sought to clarify the associations stressful life events have with symptoms of depression among college students. Consistent with work by Schultheiss and Blustein (1994), both family-related stressors and other stressors may be related to the well-being of students in a college environment, and family-related stressors may be...
The purpose of this presentation is to show the source, methods, and results of creating a computerized display of the metabolic pathways of model plants Oryza sativa (rice) and Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) using the computer program PathVisio2. The finished products may be viewed and modified for free on www.wikipathways.org...
Recent work in machine learning concerns the detection and identification of bird species from audio recordings of their vocalizations. Such analysis can yield valuable ecological information concerning the activity and distribution of species in the wild. Current species-identification methods require individual syllables of bird audio as input, but field-collected audio...
The purpose of this study is to research people’s attitudes towards pit bull breeds compared to other dog breeds. The term “pit bull” refers to a type of dog with certain physical features including a muscular and stocky build, short coats, and a large skull with a square jaw. Over...
The current debate over the possibility of visual argument is rooted in the idea that, to many, argument is strictly a verbal art of communication in which visual images do not apply. Others note a significant value that images have on argumentation and suggest that denying the scope of argument...
A spectral fitting routine was developed to analyze X-ray emissions in neutron capture decay
processes that produce ¹⁹⁷Hg and ¹⁹⁷Pt. Through correcting for X-ray emissions, the
77.3 keV γ gamma ray intensities were analyzed. The thermal cross sections for the production of
¹⁹⁷Hg and ¹⁹⁷Pt were found to be 2088...
In an effort to qualify the historical management and its effects on current stand structure, historical records, literature of the inter-mountain West, and current observations were utilized to paint a picture of the Deschutes National Forest.
Stand data were collected for the Deschutes during the summers of 2009 and 2010....
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including benzo[a]pyrene (BP), are environmental pollutants linked to increased disease susceptibilities. Alpha-Tocopherol (aT) supplementation decreases BP-DNA adducts in smokers, particularly women; but the mechanism is unknown. To test the hypothesis that aT protection from BP exposure is gender-dependent, male and female rats received 7 daily subcutaneous...
The YA4-H! program engages youth from across the state of Oregon in Youth Participatory Action Research in their own communities surrounding topics that they feel are important to them.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD or autism) is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by deficits in social skills, communication and repetitive or restricted interests. Research indicates that young children with autism experience delayed infant motor milestones resulting in deficits of fine and gross motor skills. The purpose of this larger study,...
This project examines the rulers of late medieval Castile, Enrique IV and Isabel I, and the controversies surrounding their reigns.
The paper begins with an examination of Isabel’s youth and education prior to her life at Enrique’s court. From there the troubles in Enrique’s reign are detailed beginning with discontented...
The relationship between the self and the body forms the basis of many philosophical speculations throughout history. This thesis investigates the self‐body relationship in a modern medical context, connecting abstract ideas about the mind and embodiment with ethical decision making in healthcare. Naturalist, Feminist and property conceptions of the body...
Constant and reliable health monitoring can help doctors provide higher quality
health care to meet the growing needs of the medical industry. The advent of
cloud computing has enabled low-cost sensor devices that can process their data
in real-time without powerful onboard hardware. Using an Android smartphone,
medical data can...
Heavy alcohol consumption reduces peak bone mass in growing rodents and can lead to bone loss in both adult rats and humans. In contrast, moderate alcohol consumption appears to have a bone sparing effect in post-menopausal women. Alcohol has been reported to increase aromatase activity and influence estrogen receptor (ER)...
St. Augustine was an influential member of the early Christian Church, establishing many doctrines of the Christian faith. One of his most significant contributions to Christianity was a Christian philosophy of history. Augustine defined the purpose of history as God providing salvation to humanity after the fall of Adam. This...
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a significant role in the production of several food products for human consumption. Humans exploit and maximize the various benefits from LAB characteristics, especially in foods such as cheese, yogurt and other fermented products. More recently, research discovered that certain LAB, such as Lactococcus species,...
In 1861, in order to recoup foreign loans, France invaded Mexico. Assured by the Civil War in the United States that American response would be limited, Napoleon III undertook a scheme to replace the republican president Benito Juarez with a monarchy headed by the Austrian Archduke Maximilian von Hapsburg. Bracketed...
DNA mismatch repair (MMR) plays an important role in preserving genomic stability and reducing cancer risk. Environmental exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are believed to contribute significantly to carcinogenesis. PAHs are found in food, air, water and soil and upon bioactivation can form diol epoxides which are electrophilic in...
DNA mismatch repair (MMR) plays an important role in preserving genomic stability and reducing cancer risk. Environmental exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are believed to contribute significantly to carcinogenesis. PAHs are found in food, air, water and soil and upon bioactivation can form diol epoxides which are electrophilic in...
As of February 2012, approximately 46% of American adults own a smartphone. The graphics quality of these devices gets better each year. However, they still have many more limitations in graphics processing and storage space than desktop computers. This means that applications on these devices should focus on optimizing their...
Understanding the motivations behind the daily energy use practices of individuals may be very important for encouraging people to live more sustainably. This study delves into the motivations that influence the energy use of individuals in Corvallis, Oregon. Using a survey in conjunction with Energize Corvallis, the faculty, staff, and...
The Viennese waltz is widely recognized as one of the most ubiquitous genres in classical piano literature. Despite the common characteristics that most of these waltzes share ---light, melodious themes, three-four meter, and varied tempos --- there is a large distinction between its earlier and later forms. Curiosity about its...
The Willamette Valley, west of the Cascade mountain range in the state of Oregon, is home to a growing number of vineyards. This rather recent, booming industry of the region has become an important component of the economy of the state’s agriculture since the late 1960’s, contributing more than $1.56...
Food insecurity is a growing public health concern in Oregon. Those that are food insecure often develop strategies, such as reducing the size of meals, cutting out fruits, vegetables and meats or skipping meals entirely, to make food last. One group that is disproportionately affected by food insecurity is families....
Music is a global tradition. Different cultures around the word have different musical traditions and histories, but all people create music for the same reason: the love of music and expressing oneself. In the spring of 2011, the Oregon State University Music Department entered into a cultural exchange program with...
Moral elevation refers to the distinct state of warmth and expansion that some individuals experience after witnessing or learning about the altruistic acts of others. Elevation is a particularly interesting positive emotion for its capacity to promote various altruistic behaviors, as well as motivate witnesses to improve their character. The...
Hmong women in the United States have been shown to have low rates of breast and
cervical cancer screening. The reasons behind these statistics are unclear. This study
explored possible health literacy factors that may be affecting low screening rates for
breast and cervical cancer in this population. A transcription...
Nurses are known to have “big hearts,” but in order to fully understand their own thoughts and actions in practice, nurses need to develop their minds. Nursing ethics deserves recognition because all nurses need an understanding of ethical concepts in order to recognize ethical issues and dilemmas. The ideal ways...