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...
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...
Xanthan gum, a naturally produced polysaccharide, is biocompatible, and it is commonly used as a food additive. When combined with trivalent ions, such as chromium (III), a gel can form. Various concentrations of xanthan gum and chromium (III) nitrate were combined to evaluate the sol-gel transition of this system. Samples...
Modern walking robots have shown that dynamic gaits can be achieved without ankle motors. It seems logical that the additional control authority that they provide can be used to improve the stability of the walking gait against foot placement errors caused by low level control. This thesis develops and compares...
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...
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...
This project discuses the design of a novel apparatus for measuring the interfacial rheological properties of a complex interface while measuring the concentration of redox species within the sub-phase. Preliminary measurements made using the apparatus are also presented. The objective of the preliminary experimentation was to simultaneously measure the interfacial...