The Mixteco primarily reside in the Mexican State of Oaxaca in Southwestern Mexico. They have been arriving in larger numbers then ever before to this part of the North American continent in the last twenty years.Their experience is composed of different dynamics compared to those of their mainstream Mexican counterpart....
Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, causal agent of tan spot of wheat, produces multiple
host-selective toxins (HSTs), including Ptr ToxA, encoded for by ToxA, Ptr ToxB,
encoded for by ToxB, and Ptr ToxC. Variable distribution of these three HSTs among
different isolates of P. tritici-repentis, both singularly and in all possible combinations,
defines...
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...
The objective of this study was to characterize an unknown agent associated with decline in black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) in Oregon. A virus was found consistently associated with decline symptoms of black raspberries and was named Black raspberry decline associated virus (BRDaV). Double stranded RNA extraction from BRDaV-infected black raspberry...
Four key aspects of the relationship between predatory hoverflies and the aphid pest Brevicoryne brassicae L. on broccoli were investigated in the Willamette Valley, Oregon USA: 1) the relationship between aphid density and hoverfly oviposition, 2) the larval voracity of key hoverfly species, 3) the preferences of hoverflies and broccoli...
This study explores the intrapersonal and interpersonal ecological factors that influence adolescent females' perceptions of sex and the extent to which their perceptions of sex impact onset of sexual intercourse as they mature. Particular attention is given to how depression influences individual, personal and social factors in an adolescent female's...
Complex oscillations including chaotic motions have been identified in off-shore and submerged mooring systems characterized by nonlinear fluid-structure interactions and restoring forces. In this paper, a means of controlling these nonlinear oscillations is addressed. When applied, the controller is able to drive the system to periodic oscillations of arbitrary periodicity....
The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway maintains genomic stability and
reduces cancer risk (colorectal and other internal cancers) by correcting polymerase
errors and activating cell cycle checkpoints and apoptosis in response to DNA damage.
Few studies have examined the influence of commonly encountered environmental
mutagens/carcinogens on the etiology of MMR-deficient...
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...
A unique channel surface enhancement technique via diffusion-bonding a layer of conductive fine wire mesh onto the heating wall was developed and used to experimentally study flow boiling enhancement in parallel microchannels. Each channel was 1000 μm wide and 510 μm high. A dielectric working fluid, HFE 7000, was used...
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 purpose of this study was to describe women's outdoor garments worn in Oregon from 1880 to 1920 to determine whether there were garment differences between the Willamette Valley and Eastern Oregon. The question addressed was: can garment differences be explained by the different Oregon climates, geographic locations, and availability...
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....
Electrocardiogram (ECG) data are stored and analyzed in different formats,
devices, and computer platforms. There is a need to have an independent platform
to support ECG processes among different resources for the purposes of improving
the quality of health care and proliferating the results from research. Currently,
ECG devices are...
Soil organic matter (SOM) is the terrestrial biosphere's largest pool of organic carbon (C) and is an integral part of C cycling globally. Soil organic matter composition typically can be traced directly back to the type of detrital inputs; however, the stabilization of SOM results as a combination of chemical...
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...
New methods, sensors, and devices based on redox indicators were developed to
monitor redox conditions in anoxic and anaerobic laboratory systems and the subsurface
environment. The primary application was monitoring redox conditions
during the dechlorination of tetrachioroethene (PCE) to ethene (ETH) in packed
columns and microcosm bottles containing an enriched...
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...
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds are well-recognized for their immunosuppressive activity, which is mediated through an intracellular receptor and transcription factor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Laboratory animals exposed to TCDD are less resistant to infection and have severely impaired humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. This dissertation addressed the hypothesis that...
Overweight and obesity are a growing national concern, particularly among women and selected minority populations (Ayala, Elder, Campbell, Slymen, Roy, Engelberg, et al., 2004; NHANES, 2003). Pregnant women bear a disproportionate risk of becoming overweight or obese (Greene, Smickikias-Wright, Scholl, & Karp, 1988; Gunderson et al., 2000; Rossner, 1999). Although...
Sources of polar/water-soluble organic compounds conjunctly with apolar biomarkers were characterized in natural organic matter. This multi-biomarker approach was accomplished by a simple analytical method consisting of extraction with dichloromethane:methanol (2:1, v/v), silylation and analysis by gaschromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Polar and apolar biomarkers, derived mainly from higher plants and...
Data from nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (nrITS) and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) have failed to resolve phylogenetic relationships in Pinus. To provide greater interspecific resolution, five low-copy nuclear genes were developed from mapped conifer anchor loci. Four genes were sequenced from species representing all Pinus subsections. Individual loci do...
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...
New technology may have negative, as well as positive, effects on a sociocultural system. Biodiesel is growing in popularity as a fuel alternative that addresses global warming and reduces dependency on petroleum. The biodiesel innovation fits well into the existing behavioral infrastructure of Linn and Benton Counties, Oregon. The introduction...
Distribution of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Oregon and Washington oystergrowing areas was studied between November 2002 and October 2003. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in 14.3% of oyster, 23.0% of seawater, and 44.4% of sediment samples with very low levels (≤7.4 MPN/g) of pathogenic strains being detected in oysters. Occurrence of V....
Intrinsic characteristics of Pacific sardines were determined. The lipid content
in sardines was initially low (6.79%) in the beginning ofthe season, increased to
22.95% in mid-August, and decreased slightly by the end of September. An inverse
correlation (R² = -0.90) was found between lipid and moisture content. Analysis
showed that...
We present a study of the ocean circulation using state of the art numerical and data assimilation techniques. The second chapter of the thesis presents the development and application of generalized inversion to a simple dynamical model of Lake Kinneret. The intent was to develop the necessary tools to implement...
This thesis explores the complexity of relationships between communities and the ecosystems in which they live through a focus on forest restoration and fuels reduction on private land. As a case study, research took place in the Klamath-Siskiyou region of rural Northern California, in Humboldt and Siskiyou counties. The research...
Comic Toast is a novel depicting a transition period in the life of the comic book artist character, Monica Holliday. This document includes a prologue, which provides details of a trauma in Monica's distant past, in order to inform Monica's adult reactions to the situations she finds herself entangled in....
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...
Successful prediction of nearshore sediment migration is important in determining the vulnerability of a coastline. During energetic wave climates (storm events) sediment rapidly erodes from beaches and is deposited offshore. In subsequent milder wave conditions, the sediment migrates shoreward, accreting on the beach and helping to protect the coastline. It...
This thesis examines the motivations of ecological restoration volunteers with the Oregon chapter of The Nature Conservancy. This study helps fill in voids left by a lack of research on the motivations of ecological restoration volunteers. Studies that have explored restoration volunteer motivation relied largely on surveys that revealed altruistic...
This thesis is the first half of a novel in progress called Things I Lost In Istanbul. In the selection, Simon Wells, an American expat living in Turkey, is trying to ignore the changes taking place in his life and in Istanbul--his adopted home and sanctuary. The novel tracks Simon's...
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...
In the Spring of 2001, the short documentary Fan Geeks was filmed. Fan
Geeks explores The X-files fan community, showing the fans in context to the
friendships and activities that express television as being part of their lives.
Using film to document fans' micro-situations, Fan Geeks allows for
audience analysis...
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....
This thesis is a series of personal essays that explore themes of
fundamentalism, family, loss, personal growth and the question of free will.
The work reflects my study of the written word, of language, and of how
people have tried to define, or have experienced, the numinous. The essays
are...
In this thesis, I argue that using principles of restorative justice as a guide in the resolution of sexual harassment claims is more efficacious than a traditional retributive approach. I support this claim by synthesizing the work of Phillip Hallie, Josiah Royce and Martin Buber in order to come to...
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...
