Global interest in reducing carbon emissions by use of alternative energy sources makes nuclear energy production and the impacts of the nuclear energy cycle relevant. Studying the aqueous speciation of tetravalent metals commonly used for nuclear energy (uranium, thorium, plutonium) can inform us of general metal properties and their behavior...
Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PNGC) operates the Landfill Gas to
Energy Facility at Coffin Butte Landfill in Corvallis, OR. At this facility, three internal
combustion engines use the landfill gas (predominantly methane and carbon dioxide) as
fuel to turn generators that produce enough electricity to power 1,800 average sized
homes....
The equation of state for a fluid described by the Weeks-Chandler-Andersen (WCA) potential was solved to determine at what pressures and temperatures the fluid will theoretically freeze. A Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm was used to sample a system of 256 spheres for a set of thermodynamic averages to locate and...
A six degree of freedom (6DOF) point-absorber wave energy converter (WEC) called LUPA is being developed at Oregon State University. This research focused on analyzing a full- scale LUPA, called LUPA20, to answer the following questions: 1) How does a full-scale WEC perform due to various factors; 2) What are...
Due to public and regulatory restrictions, genetic containment technology is critical for research and development of transgenic trees in forestry. A multi-year field trial demonstrated that the RNAi-LFY construct successfully induces sexual sterility in 6K10 poplar (Populus alba) without visible effects on vegetative development. However, its limited number of replicates...
Water is one of the world’s most valued commodities, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria are one of the emerging pollutants of concern. Stormwater runoff picks up pollutants such as bacteria as it runs over impervious surfaces and into waterbodies. This project tested the use of biochar columns as an effective and inexpensive...
On account of the abundance of the antique tussock
moth, and the ease with which material for study can be
secured in the vicinity of Corvallis, an investigation
of this insect was thought to be a fitting subject for
my graduation thesis. The work was begun in the spring
of...
Background: While males generally outperform females in athletic tasks, the underlying mechanisms for this difference remain unclear. Explosive neuromuscular performance of the triple extensors, often investigated via rate of torque development (RTD), is crucial for athletic tasks such as a vertical jump. Purpose: To assess sex differences in rapid torque...
In the construction of a rifle for sporting or target work
there are several conditions to be met. In the first place the
rifle must be made to balance easily.at all times, whether the magazine
is full of loaded cartridges or is empty. In all cases the
barrel of the...
The aging process is a biological phenomenon in mammals that heavily contributes to the onset of chronic diseases. While there are many theories that attempt to explain the biological onset of aging, one emerging theory involves chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been previously linked to several age-related diseases and is...
Loss of biodiversity due to the effects of climate and land-use change may have implications for pollination services. Disruption to phenological synchronicity or a reduction in the overlap in species distributions of plants and their pollinators may reduce floral resources to pollinators, forcing them to move farther distances. If pollinators...
The design and specification of a dwelling house
constitutes the thesis of the student Arvid Anderson
of the class of '08.
This thesis consists of two parts, namely: drawings
and written description or specification. The drawings
and specifications are to be considered as cooperative,
the latter are necessary to express...
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...
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play an integral role in climate change and as a carbon source for organisms living in a marine environment. These compounds have many sources, but the impacts of biogenically produced VOCs is not fully known. Phaeodactylum tricornutum was studied under axenic ideal growth conditions to determine...
Do freshmen achieve less of their personal and academic short-term goals in comparison to upperclassmen?
Some may intuitively assume that due to age, or lack of experience, college freshmen would have lower perceived task-specific ability (self-efficacy) and actually achieve less (goal-completion ranging from 0% to 100%). Differences between various class-standing...
Although it is the first drug approved for usage to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), riluzole’s mechanism of action is unknown and its therapeutic quality is hampered by its relatively short window of effectiveness. P2X7 is a purine receptor found in astrocytes and other cells, which increases calcium concentrations within...
Vitamin E (vitE) is a group of lipid-soluble antioxidants- of which alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active and only form considered to be an essential nutrient. Through preferential binding and trafficking, the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) regulates the concentration of vitE in the body. The impact of vitE deficiency on...
Simple as may seem. the subject, "A gas engine
muffler," to the reader on first thought, if he will
but take time to consider the importance of such a
device in connection with the operation of internal
combustion engines, he will probably come to the
conclusion that it is not...
This study investigated the composition and character of organic matter on suspended particulate material (SPM) in the Columbia River estuary system to determine the contribution of biological activity in lateral bays to the greater nutrient cycle of the river. Water samples were collected during neap and spring tidal forcing (25...
In designing a machine of any kind, considerations
must be made regarding the kind and amount of work
it will be required to do, the foundation for its support,
and the amount of space available for its occupancy.
An engine which is to be used for driving an automobile
must...
Part 1: A Diels-Alder Approach to the Synthesis of Novel Analogues of the Natural
Product Siamenol
Due to the prevalence of biaryl motifs in natural product synthesis, the Carter
research group has been exploring the utility of a Diels-Alder approach to biaryl
synthesis. The Diels-Alder approach involves a [4+2] cycloaddition...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the motor cortex and spinal cord. Recent evidence suggests that the purine receptor P2X7 (P2X7R) plays a central role in the pathology of ALS. Previous research indicates that P2X7R activation by oxidatively modified heat shock protein 90...
Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem in many species of bacteria today, with pathogens an important focus. Fecal contamination of shellfish is already a concern due to potential pathogens. This report examines the possibility of resistance gene transfer between microbes, due to fecal bacteria, within the oyster. In this study,...
This work aims to broaden use of the organic semiconductor pentacene (Pn) by means of improving its oxidation and photodimerization stability. In particular, we study the photophysical properties of functionalized Pn derivatives with side groups R in amorphous thin film, referred to as Pn-R-F8 when fluorinated. Using the optics experiments...
Advances in technology such as 3D digital scanning and spatial analysis software have provided archaeologists with novel data. Specifically, these methods increase the researcher's ability to measure artifact morphology and past networks of cultural transmission, to potentially track the movement of past peoples and ideas through space and time. This...
Reducing garment waste and finding sustainable alternatives within the apparel industry has gained momentum in recent years as concerns increase towards the polluting nature of the industry. Designing for longevity, by focusing on aspects such as emotional and physical durability have been cited as possible solutions. The purpose of this...
Natural products (secondary metabolites) are small organic molecules derived from plants, microbes, and marine organisms that have served as a diverse source of useful compounds pharmaceuticals. New biologically active natural products are critical as anti-infective and cancer drug leads. Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, produce diverse cytotoxic metabolites that represent potential...
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial pathogen that can cause grave and sometimes chronic infections in patients with weakened immune systems and cystic fibrosis. It is suspected that specialized sodium pumps in the cellular membrane are crucial for the organism’s survival and growth, since many cellular processes rely on the maintenance...
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of contaminants ubiquitous in the environment and result from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Many PAHs have been identified as procarcinogenic, and are metabolized to form DNA adducts; however, other mechanisms also may contribute to toxicity and help explain differences in toxicity...
Top predators play important roles in regulating communities and ecosystem processes in freshwater ecosystems. In the headwater stream network, it is crucial to understand the interspecific interaction between multiple predators. In Oregon forested ecosystems, Coastal Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) and cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) are the top predators in many...
Endophytes, foliage inhabiting fungi, are an unexplored source of fungal biodiversity and a potential resource for the production of bioactive natural products. In this research, leaf tissues from the species Arbutus menziesii, Rhododendron macrophyllum and the genus, Ilex and Salix were collected for the isolation of endophytic fungi. Fungal extracts...
Background: Uterine inflammation (e.g., endometritis) causes negative economic effects in the beef industry by reducing reproductive performance. Current treatments for endometritis in beef cattle involve hormones and antibiotics, which can be expensive and are often ineffective. The endometrial immune response regulates the release of cytokines and chemokines in response to...
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...
Group foraging occurs across many ecosystems and taxa, and benefits some or all individuals in the group by optimizing feeding efficiency. The beater theory describes when individual “beaters” benefit other group members by herding prey into more accessible areas. Humpback whales feed on a variety of small patchy prey, and...
Sweet onions are valued for their unique flavor and praised for their health and dietary character. Onion sweetness is perceived as the degree of pungency decreases. Pungency can be quantitatively determined in onions by measuring enzymatically produced pyruvic acid. The onion industry quantifies a sweet onion as one having a...
This work is concerned with determining whether nicotine has a role in promoting oxidative damage in human tissue, particularly in lung tissue. This follows from recent reports of a novel lung disease found in some E-cigarette users, characterized by oxidative damage and elevated levels of neutrophils (termed “vaping disease”). It...
Aquatic animals possess surprising similarities to humans in reproductive signaling that are simplified or elaborated for life underwater, making them useful for studying reproductive control. In this thesis, killifish and sea anemones are used as models for reproductive function and aging. The aging model Nothobranchius (killifish) was used to investigate...
From British Columbia to northern California, coastal giant salamanders (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) are a dominant vertebrate predator in headwater streams. Though widespread, salamander health and abundance levels differ greatly between locations, provoking the question as to what factors may influence this variation and whether habitat features or biotic variables play a...
With robots becoming increasingly commonplace in today’s society, we need to find ways to help robots to become better accepted. One common method used to gain acceptance and build rapport is through the use of humor. Currently, research in robot comedy exists, albeit it is fairly limited. Our goal with...
Marine primary production can be modeled and estimated using remotely-observable physiological signatures such as chlorophyll and carbon. Current models are based on strict physiological relationships based on photoautotrophic phytoplankton, and discrepancies between modeled and in situ data may stem from unaccounted-for physiological deviations from photoautotrophy. Mixotrophic phytoplankton can obtain energy...
This study is believed to be the first of its kind to characterize culturable fungal endophytes from the wood of Populus trichocarpa, and to examine the potential of inducible resistance and secondary chemistry as specific host factors that shape fungal endophytic communities in wood. To do so, more than seventy...