Through examination of empirical evidence on individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome and related Pervasive Developmental Disorders, the author attempts to provide an overview of the social deficiencies associated with these disorders. Points of primary concern are the social deficiencies in developing competence in experience-sharing and demonstrating empathy, especially in how they...
As laws regarding medical and recreational cannabis use are changing across the United States, one must begin to understand the effects among individuals with chronic pain. Specifically, it is unclear how legalization may change their use of marijuana and opioids to self-medicate or for recreational use. To address these questions,...
The oilseed crop Limnanthes alba (white meadowfoam) is grown in Oregon. Methods were developed for the production of a liquid-based bioherbicide from meadowfoam seed meal (MSM). It was determined that glucosinolate-containing extracts of MSM can be combined with active-enzyme-containing liquid extracts of meadowfoam seed to form a fermented product rich...
Music performance and education faced unique barriers during the COVID-19 global pandemic which made it nearly impossible to effectively implement online learning. To better understand these barriers and what improvements might be made during future pandemics that entail periods of isolation, I collected the oral histories of eight Oregon State...
This study aimed to explore the relationship between urinary cortisol levels and proximity-seeking behavior in shelter cats and the impact of socialization programs on these two factors. A Spearman’s correlation test found no correlation between cortisol levels and proximity-seeking behavior in shelter cats. Fisher’s 2x2 tests confirmed that the changes...
The current generation of youth, sometimes called Millennials, has had a
reputation of political apathy. However, in recent years, youth voter numbers have gone
up. If an individual or organization wanted to continue this trend of increased youth
political participation, I wanted to explore the areas that could support or...
Lithium serves an unparalleled role for high energy-density storage applications and is vital for the continued advancement of the world economy. However, global supply is heavily reliant on lithium deposits situated in select locations, creating unpredictability in the price and concerns for the sustained production of the resource. Additionally, future...
The extensive adoption of social media has provoked widespread debate about how
online communication impacts social relationships. An apparent paradox of Facebook
is that people simultaneously express feeling more and less connected than ever
before. Through perspectives from psychology and communication studies, this thesis
addresses a question of public concern:...
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...