Noimative invasive species pose a growing threat to living aquatic resources in the United States. Shipping particularly use of ballast water represents a major pathway of introduction for these species and in 1996, Congress established a program of baseline surveys to measure the effectiveness of ballast water management. This report...
In today's world, desktop computers have become such an integral part of
our lives that it is practically impossible to imagine anything being done without the
aid of computers. As the world becomes more and more fast paced and users feel a
need to have computers on the go, desktop...
An experimental study was performed in which an ammonia-water solution was desorbed within a branching fractal-like microchannel array. The solution entered in the center of a disk, and flowed out radially until discharging in to a gravity-driven separation chamber. Heat was added to the ammonia-water through a thin wall, above...
The use of mobile bar code scanners is expanding to markets beyond popular manufacturing uses, such as healthcare, environmental testing and professional services. The successful interaction of users with mobile bar code scanners is of great importance from a business and technology perspective as well as from the user standpoint....
A unique tumor targeted method, which may be able to deliver a molecule to the surface of a tumor cell using the pH gradient between hypoxic tumor cells and normal tissue has recently been developed. Since solid tumors have been found to have a lower extra cellular pH compared to...
This research studies the effect of corruption on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in various industries. We use industry level data of US Investments abroad in 60 host countries from 1990 to 2002. We explore the questions of whether corruption is an impediment to FDI and if so, how does this...
In the equatorial Pacific Ocean, earthquakes are used as an indicator of tectonic stress for normal faults in the Galapagos Spreading Center, transform faults along the East Pacific Rise and thrust faults in the Middle American subduction zone. Linkages between seafloor tectonic processes and oceanographic and lunar conditions were explored...
Mismatch repair (MMR) system performs mainly three roles to maintain
genomic stability, correct DNA biosynthetic errors, ensure the fidelity of
genetic recombination, and in mammalian cells participate in the cellular
response to some DNA damages. Deficiencies in mismatch repair increase
mutation rates and cancer risks. In eukaryotes, the MMR system...
Torrubiella is a genus of entomopathogenic fungi in the Clavicipitaceae
(Ascomycota). Species of the genus produce superficial perithecia on a loose mat of
hyphae that forms directly on the host. The genus is estimated to contain about 70
species. Torrubiella is hypothesized to be a close relative of Cordyceps because...
Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica Host.) is a serious weed problem in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the United States. Studies were conducted to determine the outcrossing rate, competitive ability, and effectiveness of certain control practices on jointed goatgrass. A field study was conducted over two years at four locations...
Quick Response is an umbrella term for strategies to cut lead times and to eliminate unnecessary production costs from a manufacturing plant to a consumer market. In particular, the textile and apparel industries need strategies to quickly respond to a changeable market in the international supply chain. As the industry...
Among the Generation IV reactors, the Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) is being considered as the ideal design for a Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP). The VHTR system is designed for a gas cooled reactor and originates from modifying and further developing the 600MW Gas Turbine-Module Helium Reactor (GTMHR). The...
Soil that is contaminated with radioactive elements poses an exposure hazard to those whom may take up temporary or permanent residence on such a site. Of particular interest is the internal exposure from ingestion of this radioactive soil. Although most ingestion of soil is inadvertent, usually being attached to foodstuffs...
An experimental environmental uptake model was developed for the purpose
of estimating the final harvest concentration of contaminant following an acute
accidental release of radiocesium onto an eastern Oregon winter wheat crop. The
system was developed using the PATHWAY environmental uptake model as
presented by Whicker and Kirchner (1987) for...
Radiation health and safety issues associated with a plutonium-powered radioisotope
powered micro fuel cell (RMFC) were evaluated. The RMFC converts water into its
component elements by radiolysis and the resultant hydrogen is used to power the fuel
cell. This device is under development and is being considered for possible
deployment...
Shattering is a natural phenomenon of floret and spikelet disarticulation across
abscission layers of the pedicel and rachilla, respectively, after seed maturation. Seed
shattering in cool-season grasses and native grass species is an economic problem in seed
production.
This study was conducted to determine whether the use of the plant...
An analysis method for moving loads computes the internal demand history in a structural member at integration points of force-based finite elements as opposed to the end forces of a refined displacement-based finite element mesh. The force-based formulation satisfies strong equilibrium of internal section forces with the element end forces...
The present study investigated how the home literacy environment and children's learning-related social skills independently and interactively predicted early literacy skills in a sample of 72 children. Hierarchical regressions revealed that the home literacy environment predicted children's early reading and vocabulary skills, when controlling for maternal education and child age....
A satellite-derived Climatology of Global Ocean Winds (COGOW) on a 0.5° latitude by 0.5° latitude grid is presented based on 5-years (August 1999 July 2004) of measurements from the SeaWinds scatterometer that was launched on 19 June 1999 onboard the QuikSCAT satellite. SeaWinds is an active microwave radar that estimates...
In early 2000, unusual mortality of a native North American tree, golden chinquapin, was reported by the USDA-Forest Service. Dying trees exhibited girdling cankers in the inner bark of the lower bole, branch flagging and defoliation. Isolations from necrotic tissues and soil associated with diseased or killed trees yielded Phytophthora...
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal released into the environment from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The organic form of mercury is a potent neurotoxin that is especially dangerous to developing nervous systems. Results of recent studies have caused the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency...
The effect of temperature on cattle behavior and distribution was studied in the foothills of California. To accurately understand changes in livestock behavior and distribution, five seasonal trials, each spanning three to four weeks were conducted beginning spring 2004 and ending spring 2005. The two spring trials and the fall...
The purpose of this study was to look at occupant satisfaction with Kelley Engineering Center, a LEED registered building. Results from a post-occupancy evaluation of Kelley conducted in spring 2006 were compared to those from a pre-occupancy survey of occupants in non-green buildings disseminated in spring 2005. The results showed...
The 3-substituded indolic enamide moiety has been found in many marine compounds over the past 20 years. These indolic enamides exhibit various biological properties such as cytotoxic, anthelmintic, antimicrobial and HW-inhibitory activities. Among these indolic enamides, some are (E)-enamides, like coscinamide A and coscinamide B, others are (Z)-configuration in their...
The behavior of stirrups engaged by diagonal cracks and under service loads is
largely unknown. Full-size laboratory specimens were loaded to induce diagonal
cracks and subjected to high-cycle fatigue loading to represent a service life of 50
years. Tests indicated little change in the average stirrup stress range and mean...
In this study, I test for tacit collusion in retail gasoline markets by testing for sticky downward pricing and price leadership. Using an extensive dataset consisting of twenty-five gasoline markets located in the greater Willamette Valley region of Oregon, I find evidence of sticky downward pricing in every market. I...
The Department of Nuclear Engineering at Oregon State University has recently introduced a neutron radiography facility (OSNRF). The facility is dependent on a neutron source established by the OSU TRIGA® Reactor (OSTR). It was unknown how accurately a computerized model of the OSTR in conjunction with the OSNRF could represent...
This analysis uses data from a larger ethnographic study examining community effects of mobile home park residence on child and youth development to explore the resilient pathways of 8 mothers and maternal guardians in order to understand better how successful adaptation is achieved despite significant threats present throughout the life...
One of the classic problems in industrial engineering is the buffer allocation
problem. The objective of the buffer allocation problem is to maximize some line
output, typically throughput, through the allocation of buffers throughout the
production line. Previous work in this area has focused on either determining
general design rules...
There is growing interest in using nutrient manipulations to control invasive
plants such as Brornus lectorurn L. (cheatgrass). Both labile (sucrose) and recalcitrant
(straw and sawdust) carbon sources are added to the soil surface to reduce plant
available soil N via soil microbial immobilization. However, the application rates
used in...
The LRFR Manual, within commentary Article C6.4.4.2.3, contains provisions for development of site-specific live load factors. In Oregon, truck Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) data were used to develop live load factors for use on state-owned bridges. The factors were calibrated using the same statistical methods that were used in the original development...
This work describes the fabrication of a high uranium density fuel for the
Reduced Enrichment of Research and Test Reactors Program. In an effort to decrease
the use of high enriched uranium in research and test reactors around the world, new
fuels with high uranium densities must be developed such...
Childhood lead poisoning is one of the most common preventable pediatric health problems in the United States. Fetuses, neonates, and young children are particularly sensitive to adverse health effects associated with lead exposure due to children's hand to mouth activities, their greater ability to absorb lead, and their vulnerable developing...
Red wine texture is a particularly important property of overall red wine quality
whose origin is not well understood. The overall goal of this study was to improve our
understanding of how chemical composition influences red wine texture. Unlike
previous studies that have used model systems to investigate how chemical...
Wetlands are widely identified as providing important and fundamental processes valuable for maintaining ecosystem health and diversity. Located in the southern Willamette Valley, the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum contains some valuable remaining wetland habitat along the Coast Fork of the Willamette River. One goal of the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum is "to...
This study develops theoretical and empirical models to analyze the
motivations and outcomes of Oregon business decisions for voluntary
environmental management. More specifically, the following issues are explored
in this study: What motivates a facility to over-comply with environmental
regulations? Why does a facility adopt an environmental management plan
(EMP)?...
In response to concerns about excessive stand densities and high-severity wildfires, land managers in the western United States are carrying out extensive programs of fuel reduction thinning. How will these sudden reductions in canopy cover and associated changes in habitat affect native and exotic herbaceous vegetation and canopy species regeneration?...
Many contemporary fisheries and wildlife issues are complex, messy, and divisive. Most share a set of common characteristics including a lack of comprehensive scientific information, a limited understanding of biological processes, a scarcity of agency staff, time, money, and a tendency for differences over policy preferences to end up as...
During the last decade environmental management has moved from reaction-based management to regulatory requirements to a more progressive approach that incorporates regulatory requirements and voluntary programs, such as the ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS), to successfully administer their environmental programs. Organizations that transitioned from reaction-based to progressive management through...
In the western United States, sagebrush (Artemisia spp L.) dominated rangelands are extensive, accounting for approximately 63 million ha. The Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) alliance is found in more xeric environments, occupying the largest area of the big sagebrush complex in areas within...
Microchannel devices are rapidly evolving process technology with a wide variety of applications. Microchannel devices hold the potential to transform many separation processes. One potential application for such microchannel devices is kidney dialysis. By reducing the size and cost of the device, this technology offers the potential to allow dialysis...
Diffusion bonding has been widely used within microlamination architectures for the
fabrication of Micro Energy and Chemical Systems (MECS). MECS are microsystems
with the ability to process bulk amounts of fluid within highly-parallel microchannel
arrays capable of accelerated heat and mass transfer. Thus far, diffusion bonding of
microchannel arrays is...
Traditionally, livestock operations were small and combined with cropping operations. This allowed farms to be self-sustaining because nutrients were constantly recycled on the farm. Since the Haber-Bosch chemical process was patented, crop farmers turn to industrial fertilizers when soils nutrients are depleted. Animal and plant operations diverged, functionally separated, and...
Waterfowl and the places they inhabit provide numerous economic benefits to society. The financial and other resources provided by waterfowl hunters to secure and protect waterfowl habitat are a major force for wetland protection, as guided under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. However, the habitat and population objectives established...
John Archibald Wheeler (09 July 1911- ) is a familiar name to physicists and historians of physics alike. Among his many contributions to the corpus of knowledge, in 1939 John Wheeler and Niels Bohr co-authored the first paper on the generalized mechanism of nuclear fission. Beyond that seminal work, Wheeler...
It is widely accepted among nursery producers that [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco] bark (DFB) is an excellent substrate for container production, hence its widespread use in Oregon and other regions where Douglas fir constitutes a significant portion of the forest products industry. Despite its widespread use, little information is available...
This study investigated variation in xylem anatomy, hydraulic properties, and the relationship between anatomy and properties within Douglas-fir trees at multiple scales. The hierarchical scales in the study included fertilization treatments (fertilized and unfertilized), trees within the treatments, and positions within the trees. Tracheid diameter, tracheid length, percent latewood, number...
Prairies were once the dominant vegetation type in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Land use conversion, fire suppression, succession, and invasive species have reduced Willamette Valley prairies to less than 1% of their historical area. The remnant prairies that persist today are small in size and are highly fragmented. Marginal strips of...
The goal of this research is to understand factors influencing the use of TEK in
natural resource management collaborations between tribes and federal agencies. This includes what evidence exists that TEK is being used, what tribal factors influence the use of TEK, what agency factors influence the use of TEK,...
The results of a review of six decades of existing literature for 50% lethal dose data across a range of phyla are presented. The collected 50% lethal dose data is limited to adult organisms subjected to acute doses of gamma radiation. The data collected is examined to determine whether useful...