We demonstrated a sensitive biosensor based on plasmonic metal composite nanostructures. The device can be fabricated and duplicated with ease using a novel nanoprinting technology which allows precise transfer of metal nanostructures without complicated lithography processes. The design featured by its unique material composition and sub-wavelength structures maximizes the exposure...
A system for radiological dosimetry for nonhuman biota developed by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) relies on calculations that utilize the Monte Carlo simulations of simple, ellipsoidal geometries with internal radioactivity distributed homogeneously throughout. In this manner it is quick and easy to estimate whole-body dose rates to biota....
Landscape characteristics can strongly influence demographic and genetic processes in wildlife populations. Climate change and human land use are causing many landscapes to change rapidly, and the effects on wildlife populations must be understood to properly manage these threats and design effective conservation strategies. In this dissertation, I explored the...
The symbiosis between cnidarians, such as corals and sea anemones, and photosynthetic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Symbiodinium spp. is one of the most productive in the marine environment. This mutualistic endosymbiosis allow reef-building corals to lay down the foundation of coral reef ecosystems, which supports a highly biodiverse community...
The advent of synthetic adhesives has transformed the structural applications of wood. However, a persistent issue in adhesively-bonded wood products has been moisture durability. When designing wood based composites, moisture durability will depend on both the wood phase and the adhesive phase. A key question, therefore, is how does one...
The design of mobile wireless devices has always focused on reducing power, area, and cost. This dissertation proposes two techniques that are leveraged to save power and area and therefore cost. The first techniques reduces the noise in the receiver and results in a relaxed power requirement. The second technique...
Lateral spread is a pervasive type of liquefaction-induced ground failure that occurs on gentle slopes or near free-faces, such as river channels. Resulting horizontal displacements can reach up to several meters, and can be considerably damaging to foundations, bridges, roadways, pipelines, etc. In the 1990s, Bartlett and Youd (1992a, 1995)...
Exposure to urban outdoor air pollution is ubiquitous and low birth weight represents an important health disparity in the United States. While previous research suggests that exposure to outdoor air pollutants are associated with term low birth weight, few studies have evaluated the effects of multipollutant outdoor air exposures or...
High-energy delayed γ-rays from photofission were demonstrated to be signatures for detection and identification of special nuclear materials. Such γ-rays were measured in between linac pulses using independent data acquisition systems. A list-mode system was developed to measure low-energy delayed γ-rays after irradiation. Photofission product yields of ²³⁸U and ²³⁹Pu...
Background: Social interaction among peers on a campus of higher education has long been considered an important part of the college student experience, in particular for the first-term students transitioning into college life. Students who socially connect with peers on campus tend to persist at higher rates, while other benefits...
The objective of this paper is to demonstrate a method for mechanically characterizing a 25 μm thick elastoviscoplastic hemodialysis membrane and for quantifying the force required to use that membrane in compression sealing. First, methods are developed for mechanically characterizing the thin elastoviscoplastic membrane. Then, a finite element model is...
Fischer-Tropsh Synthesis is a chemical process that converts CO and H₂ (syngas) into long stable hydrocarbon chains to use as fuel. This process suffers from large product distribution that requires expensive post processing. In this study, the reaction mechanism of hydrocarbon chain growth on Co is investigated on different surface...
The objectives of this research were to investigate the optimal conditions for anthocyanins extraction from different anthocyanin rich fruit and to develop microencapsulation formulation for improving stability of anthocyanin extracts. In the extraction optimization study, two extraction methods, "conventional solvent extraction (CE)" and "ultrasound-assisted extraction (UE)" for three different anthocyanin-rich...
Advances in low-power digital integration and microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) have paved the way for micro-sensors. These sensors are equipped with data processing capabilities along with sensory circuits. Sensor data are processed on these individual sensors and transmitted to the target (sink). Lowcost integration and small sizes of these sensors have...
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the physicochemical properties and bioactive compounds from four different types of fruit pomace, including apple, blueberry, raspberry, and cranberry, and further to investigate the feasibility of creating apple pomace based biocomposite boards using thermal compression molding and to optimize the biocomposite formulations...
In 2012, a university in the north western United States began offering a redesigned college algebra class that had a greater emphasis on active learning. Specifically, two out of four class periods were completely devoted to students working together in small groups on carefully designed worksheets. Two years later, the...
An enabling technology for long duration, deep space missions is the availability of a high power, long-lived power supply. The goal of this work is the design of a self-regulating deep space nuclear reactor. The design objectives are to produce 250 kWth for a 25-year period using the presence of...
In this dissertation, I describe the experimental investigation of catching ions in superfluid helium droplets. The ultimate goal of our project is to build a coherent electron diffraction apparatus for atomic structure determination from oriented single macromolecules. This involves generating protein ions from electrospray ionization (ESI) and doping them in...
Transparent and electrically conductive metal oxide nanoparticles have attracted much attention, and can be used to improve the performance of solar cells, transparent electrode materials, and gas sensor technology. Specifically, indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocrystals (NCs) are potentially useful nanomaterials, having technological applications in enhanced sensitivity of optical spectroscopy due...
This thesis will explore the architectural material culture excavated at the Robert Newell Homestead (35MA41), currently located in Champoeg, Oregon. Specifically, the research focuses on the vernacular architecture or the features and construction methods used that both reflect the environment and the cultural traditions of the dwellings occupants. The Robert...