If we are conscious beings, what ethical implications might that have? Are there inherent ethical responsibilities in consciousness? If so, what are they? Here we explore the possibility of experience within artificial general intelligence as it relates directly to the essential question of ethical responsibilities implied by human consciousness. By...
Over 70% of the Antarctic krill population exists along the Antarctic Peninsula, a region undergoing rapid climate change. Recent studies have shown a clear correlation between krill recruitment each spring and the timing and coverage of sea ice the winter before, with less sea ice and a shorter duration being...
Understanding poverty as a state of being poor with regard to concretely being unable to meet basic needs such as water, food, clothes, shelter, and essential services (e.g., sanitation, health, and education), its concerted study in the United States not only stands tandem with constitutionally upheld values such as equality...
Weight bias has dramatically increased over the last 20 years
and is as prevalent as bias based on race and gender. The
media is a primary source of weight bias according to a review
of weight-related content within newspapers, popular press
books, television, and movies. Bias is perpetuated through
messages...
An analysis on the work of Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" and his ability to create powerful imagery and contextualize the unknown of war for the those who have never taken part.
--Vietnam Experience Final Paper
Autism and Alexithymia are two disorders characterized by deficiencies in interpersonal and emotional processing. For example, both of these disorders are associated with deficits in the ability to identify and judge the emotions of others. For diagnosis, patients are typically assessed for such deficiencies using published tests of emotion perception...
Autism and alexithymia are two disorders characterized by deficiencies in interpersonal and emotional processing. For example, both of these disorders are associated with deficits in the ability to identify and judge the emotions of others. For diagnosis, patients are typically assessed for such deficiencies using published tests of emotion perception...
Background: The Wave~Ripples for Change: Obesity Prevention in High-School Soccer Players research project is a 5-Y USDA funded project focused on building healthy nutrition, physical activity and life skills for healthy weight maintenance. The intervention includes providing face-to-face sport nutrition, physical activity and life- skills lessons, assessments of body composition,...
Warm, high pressure systems are measured from a weather station on a high elevation peak in the Oregon Coast range during the winter months. Temperature observations on Mary’s Peak show abnormally warm air in relation to the surrounding areas. The goal of this study was to characterize the frequency and...
One of the surprising things about the 2016 presidential election was how much each presidential candidate was disliked. In this historic election, questions about whether voters made their decisions by supporting their candidate or voting against another have arisen. Studies have been done in the past that examine which traits...
This study evaluated the memory and visual discrimination capabilities of Enteroctopus dofleini, the Giant Pacific Octopus. Octopuses have been known to have advance sensory capabilities and through this study we challenged our specimen to remember and actively choose a specific patterned jar based on a visual pattern and positive reinforcement....
Visual working memory (VWM) allows us temporarily hold images in our minds and manipulate them. As an example, you can remember a face you just saw, or try to imagine how a room would look with a different arrangement of furniture. Previous studies have shown that individuals with low VWM...
Vibrio cholerae is a gram-negative gammaproteobacteria, well
known for causing the watery-diarrheal disease Cholera. V. cholerae is
endemic to the marine and freshwater ecosystems of India and
surrounding aquatic environments within that region. Primary
reservoirs include brackish water and estuaries. The primary symptom
is rapid dehydration due to watery diarrhea....
As juvenile salmon migrate from freshwater into saltwater, physiological changes must occur to allow fish to osmoregulate in the marine environment. Juvenile spring Chinook salmon migrate to the ocean at different time periods, most notably in the fall (August – November; i.e. fall smolts) and spring (February – May; i.e....
Vitamin D sufficiency supports cardiovascular health and lower cancer risk. Rates of vitamin D insufficiency vary by racial/ethnic group, in part because skin pigment limits sunlight penetration. However race/ethnicity is an unreliable marker of vitamin D deficiency, given individual differences in skin pigment, or phototype, and other characteristics. Clarifying associations...
Glioblastoma Multiform
• Type of aggressive brain cancer
• Five year survival rate of 4.70%
• Not often detected until it’s in the later stages when
the symptoms appear
• Surgery is not an effective option due to invasion and
proliferation of glioblastoma cells outside of the tumor
mass before...
Cancer is a hard disease to control because of its ability to spread to different parts of the body. Cancer cells can spread out from a primary tumor to distant organs which gives rise to new cancer cell colonies and more tumors over time. This process is known as metastasis...
Self-disclosure is a complex process that impacts social, cultural, and individual contexts of people’s lives. Under ideal circumstances, disclosure strengthens social bonds, enhances intimacy in relationships, and fosters a more unified sense of the self. Disclosing information about a stigmatized identity, however, is associated with a variety of risks and...
Native to the Pacific Northwest, Ceratomyxashastais a myxosporeanparasite that infects wild and cultivated salmon and has a significance impact on its population in the Klamath River basin. The study suggests that the transmission of mixed genotypes of the parasite are common in Chinook salmon but the age of the fish...
The rocky shores of the US West Coast are home to diverse ecological communities made up of species that are uniquely adapted for survival at the harsh boundary between land and sea. Even so, physical or environmental stressors regularly kill swaths of animals on the rocks. This is called disturbance....
There exists a growing need to establish a better in vitro model for evaluating PAH toxicity and carcinogenicity and to improve assessments of risk to human health, especially to the complex mixtures that exist in the environment. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants due to the incomplete combustion...
Rectial Program
| Scherzo - Oleg Miroshnikov
| Syrinx - Claude Debussy
| Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6 - Heitor Villa-Lobos (Feat. Kaleigh Hull on flute)
| Turkisher March - Christian Julius Weissenborn (Feat. Annie Kosanovic-Brown, Andrew McKelvey on bassoon)
| Pizzicati Polka - Leo Delibes (DeArr. Mark Eubanks) (Feat. Annie...
In rapid serial visual presentation, identification of the second of two targets is impaired when it closely follows the first target. This phenomenon is known as the attentional blink (AB) effect. Awh and his colleagues (2004) found that face discrimination was immune to AB when performed together with a digit...
In rapid serial visual presentation, identification of the second of two targets is impaired when it closely follows the first target. This attentional blink (AB) effect suggests limited capacity in processing successive visual stimuli in working memory. Awh et al. (2004) found that face identity Target 2 was immune to...
The research revolves around membrane-assisted electrolysis to recover caustic soda from alkali processing. This research began with the lab having no experience in electrochemistry and thus conducting initial experiments to begin to understand electrochemical systems. The lab then looked at both gas production and anodic fouling behavior. The lab then...
Yaquina Bay, Oregon, has been introduced to a few The invasive species in Yaquina Bay, Oregon can have a huge effect on the native species and local ecosystem. European green crab (Carcius maenas) is an invasive species. The European green crab can be found on the mudflats competing with the...
This study aimed to investigate if diversity exists among faculty members in (20) twenty universities in sociology, political science, and chemistry departments situated in a variety of cities on the American West Coast. By conducting a content analysis composed of official university websites and individual Curriculum Vitae, each listed faculty...
During volcanic eruptions ascending magma undergoes decompression, resulting in a decrease of dissolved H2O. This creates unstable conditions for the hydrous mineral amphibole. As a result a reaction rim forms from anhydrous minerals such as pyroxene, plagioclase, and Fe-Ti oxides (Rutherford and Hill, 1993). There have been numerous studies done...
An important field of study within the exercise science realm lies in identifying risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries to inform injury prevention programs. One of the more serious injuries in sports, especially sports involving cutting and jumping, is sprain of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Previous research has found that...
This paper is a literature review and analysis of the housing policy known as Housing First. Under said policy, homeless individuals are housed prior to requisite addiction and mental health services. The literature encompasses multiple randomized controlled trials, as well as broader observational studies on Permanent Supportive Housing. The studies...
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is directly involved in breast cancer (BC) metastasis, as well as the severity of metastatic tumors. Excess PTH, caused by insufficient dietary calcium, may be an important and preventable factor affecting BC metastasis to bone. PTH levels increase with age in most women, largely due to insufficient...
Does the wage gap exist in careers that require higher levels of educational attainment? Research indicates that, on average, women make around 80% of what men earn. This study aims to investigate the relationship between educational attainment and the magnitude of the wage gap. Due to the differences in gender...
HafSOx is a dielectric material that also functions as an insulator. It is able to be spin-coated onto a silicon substrate, creating a thin, amorphous film. It is very dense, which helps lead it to a high dielectric constant, making it ideal for electronic devices through the use of lithography....
This gamma irradiation study was conducted to establish an LD50 of the hop (Humulus lupulus L.) cultivar Cascade . The overall, long term goal is to generate replacement hop cultivars by inducing minor but significant DNA alterations with gamma radiation to improve agronomic quality without changing the brewing profile. The...
Being present in an area of play can create a dynamic experience of exploration, movement, and interaction with objects and peers. These are required to foster positive development across cognitive, social, and physical domains (1).
Children with disabilities may experience limitations in mobility impacting their early exploration, socialization, and play...
Foreign occupation and extraction have arguably existed since the very emergence of interstate conflict millennia ago. Yet despite humanity’s vast experience on the topic, we know surprisingly little about its long-term economic consequences. It is generally accepted by most that the extraction of resources by a foreign power tends to...
The preceding empirical research examines the traditional and evolutionary research surrounding youth deviance. Deviance is routinely discussed as an adverse impact in a plethora of theories and it is imperative to further develop the knowledge of deviance as society progresses. In this report, the utilized sample group approximately (n=13583) was...
Certificate of Need (CON) laws provide state level review of the need for additional health care resources in a given community. General CON regulations on medical services have been relatively well-documented. Little attention has been paid to state CON regulations for psychiatric and substance abuse care and their impacts on...
In this study, the effects of A and B site cation substitution of the distorted perovskite YCoO₃ on crystal structure and thermoelectric properties were investigated. Polycrystalline samples of Y₁₋ₓCaₓCoO₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20) and YCo₁₋ₓRhₓO₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) were prepared by solid state reaction. Optimal synthesis conditions...
Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in the U.S. and is among the leading causes of death in men of all races. One predictor of advanced prostate cancer and aggressive tumor behavior is the overexpression of the histone methyl transferase EZH2.
EZH2 functions in the...
Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in the U.S. and is among the leading causes of death in men of all races. One predictor of advanced prostate cancer and aggressive tumor behavior is the overexpression of the histone methyl transferase EZH2.
EZH2 functions in the...
Self-directed mobility is a fundamental human right. Typically developing children engage in mobility for a majority of their day, but children with disabilities do not have the same opportunities. Children with disabilities are at a disadvantage and have a greater risk for developmental delays in physical and cognitive skills, along...
Farensoid X Receptor (FXR) is a very flavoring protein for the treatment and prevention of the many conditions related to metabolic syndrome. Our experiment explores the binding activities of FXR when introduced to various natural and synthetic ligands. Currently, an initial assay showing the Stern-Volmer relationship of our date supports...
This internship project (Dr. Dawn Wright—Department of Geoscience) was a synthesis of several aspects of the research process. The documentation of methods consisted of: primary data collection of soil samples, geographical coordinates, georeferencing, basemap creation, laboratory machine operation, laboratory methods, laboratory quality control planning, statistical analysis, and geo-statistical analysis using...
Carcinus maenas is an invasive marine predator. Its generalist feeding strategies make it one of the most effective invaders. Carcinus maenas has invasive populations throughout the world, and was recently introduced to the west coast of North America. This study looks at the abundance and growth of C. maenas in...
The European green crab, Carcinus maenas, is a generalist predator that has established invasive populations throughout the
world, including the west coast of North America. In Oregon, strong cohorts of green crabs recruit only during major El Niño
events. The goals of this study are to: 1) compare the abundance...
The European green crab, Carcinus maenas, is a generalist predator that has established invasive populations throughout the world, including the west coast of North America. In Oregon, strong cohorts of green crabs recruit only during major El Niño events. The goals of this study are to: 1) compare the abundance...
Weed management is one of the main challenges for organic agriculture. Soil solarization has been shown to be an effective mitigation strategy for weeds and soil borne plant pathogens but few studies have been conducted in cooler climates such as the Pacific Northwest.
Soil respiration has been identified as one of the largest natural sources of CO₂ to the global carbon cycle. Small alterations in the magnitude of soil respiration can have potentially large effects on concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ , making the rate at which respiration occurs of great scientific interest (Martin...
We found that a strains of Yersinia pestis (KIM5) which lacked the nhaA gene was fully attenuated in a plague model. This gene produces a protein of the sodium-proton antiporter family which expel sodium ions from the bacterial cytoplasm in exchange for hydrogen ions, or protons, from the surrounding environment....
Fine and gross motor skills are essential for healthy development. Studies suggest that children in lower socioeconomic status (SES) families present a delay in these essential motor skills and, therefore, are at risk for poor motor skill development.This study aimed to correlate fine and gross motor skills with family socioeconomic...
A focus group format was used to investigate and identify favorable and unfavorable communications between two strangers, an AAC (Augmentative/Alternative Communication) device user and their communication partner. The principal interest was in the feedback gained from an ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) support group at the Salem Hospital which included participants...
In this study, we compared the behavior of bottle fed lambs verses mother fed lambs in three testing scenarios; the sociability test, the paired attachment test, and the mismatch attachment test. The tests sought to determine if a familiar human can serve as a secure base for lambs in a...
As global temperatures continue to rise there has been an increase in forest fire frequency and severity. With larger areas of forest being burned it is increasingly important to understand how forest fires effect snow processes. Previous research shows that burned areas will accumulate more snow and that this snow...
Host-selective toxins (HSTs) secreted by the pathogenic isolate of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, BFP, are major pathogenicity factors in tan spot disease of wheat. Along with characterized HSTs such as Ptr ToxA (ToxA), BFP secretes at least two more uncharacterized toxic components. In an attempt to identify these additional components, 12 candidate...
Saccharina sessilis, lettuce kelp, is a macroalgae that contributes to the primary production in the intertidal zone off of the Oregon Coast. Macroalgae can serve as a bioindicator of increased nutrient input, water quality, and shifts in the intertidal environment. Competition for light exists between macroalgae species and with other...
Three key tectonic domains of western North America, the Walker Lane Fault Zone (WLFZ), northwestern Basin and Range (NWBR), and Cascade arc, intersect in south-central Oregon. Bounded by Cascade arc volcanoes in the west, the Klamath Graben is traditionally regarded as the western-most extent of the Basin and Range extensional...
The North American forest sector is well-known for its lack of diversity. In most operations, middle-aged white males are the majority of employees. Given this setting, we investigate the experiences of female executives working in North American forest sector firms. We take a qualitative approach with in-person and Skype interviews...
Upon entering a residential drug and alcohol treatment, typically clients are directed to complete a risk assessment form. Risk assessment forms are anonymous, self-reported questionnaires that inquire about demographics, health, sexual behaviors, as well as drug and alcohol use. The YES house is a youth treatment facility in Corvallis Oregon...
Throughout Cane, a colon is representative of both characters’ thought and dialogue in a quasidrama technique that perpetuates the idea of a staged performance (Foley 233). Through this form, Cane encapsulates the non-authentic expression that African Americans were subjected to by a means of acting and/or pretending in fear of...
The idea for this research projected stemmed from research I conducted during my Economics 439: Public Policy course. This research project examines the idea of Voter Identification Laws and Regulations and their effect on voter turnout and participation in the United States of America. I previously found that economists studied...
In the field of religious studies, it is common to separate meta theories about the concept of religion itself into two equally problematic categories that both make claims about the truth of religious doctrine. This is done by attempting to define religion by historically excluding non-Christian religious traditions from the...
The acquired ability of Salmonella to express varying morphotypes when placed in nutrient-limited conditions is hypothesized to predict increased resistance to food processing interventions. Two of the morphotypes expressed by Salmonella are Red, Dry and Rough (RDAR) and Smooth and White (SAW). Increased resistance is predicted for the RDAR morphotype...
Children’s self-regulation and academic achievement are important factors in predicting school readiness and later academic outcomes. This study examined relationships between parental marital status and residential mobility on children’s academic achievement and self-regulation in kindergarten. Using a diverse sample of 131 kindergarten children, results indicated that the number of family...
Air pollution and pollution patterns have become a hot topic over the last several years. Many studies have been launched due to the increasing concern with air quality. As urban areas grow, atmospheric heavy metal pollution grows proportionally. Reducing atmospheric heavy metal pollution, and consequent health issues, requires monitoring and...
Cascadia is the physiographic region defined by the active tectonics and attendant geo-hazards of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. In contrast to many other coastal environments in the U.S., geo-hazards along the Cascadia coast are dominated by a tectonic context on the Pacific rim “ring of fire.” Washington, Oregon, and California...
The present study examined whether semantic activation for words occurs by encoding whole word shape in addition to individual letters. We used LEET stimuli, where digits were used as parts of words, such as “R34DING” instead of “READING”. Previous studies have suggested that LEET stimuli are encoded in a letter-like...
The present study examined whether semantic activation for words occurs by encoding whole word shape in addition to individual letters. We used LEET stimuli, where digits were used as parts of words, such as “R34DING” instead of “READING”. Previous studies have suggested that LEET stimuli are encoded in a letter-like...
Fat Studies (FS) is a new interdisciplinary field that addresses oppression based on body weight, shape, and size as it intersects with oppression based on other areas of difference. As such, FS incorporates a weight-neutral approach to health, Health At Every Size® (HAES), that decries weight bias, promotes body self-acceptance...
The presence of nitrates and nitrites in food is associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer and, in infants, methemoglobinemia. Nitrites are produced endogenously through the oxidation of nitric oxide and through a reduction of nitrate by commensal bacteria in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. Despite the physiologic roles...
1. To determine whether plastics are being ingested by black rockfish at three sites along the Oregon coast
2. To determine if there is a significant difference in rates of plastic ingestion between marine reserve locations and Newport location.
3. To quantify the extent of plastic ingestion and to identify...
The transition from high school (HS) to college can prove to be a
difficult one for many HS students. In becoming acclimated
within the academic and social realm of a college experience the
individual is offered an opportunity to develop many lifestyle
habits such as diet, sleep and most notably...
Sea stars are well known on the Pacific coast as being keystone species. Pisaster ochraceus plays a major role in controlling the lower limits of the high zone mussel beds, normally preying on medium to large-sized species. Leptasterias hexactis is often found feeding on smaller prey. According to the competitive...
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an idiopathic disorder prevalent in ~5-10% of reproductive-aged women. In PCOS women who become pregnant, many experience complications including increased susceptibility of having a miscarriage, high blood pressure, and gestational diabetes, among others. Additionally, exposure to PCOS may have transgenerational impacts: offspring may be at...
Consuming cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli sprouts, kale, Brussels sprouts, and bok choy is associated with several health benefits, such as a decreased risk of certain cancers. Cruciferous vegetables contain the glucosinolate, glucoraphanin (GFN). Cutting, chopping or chewing these vegetables releases the enzyme myrosinase, which transforms GFN into sulforaphane (SFN)....
Sablefish is a highly sought after seafood delicacy for which aquaculture of this species has recently been developed. By understanding the immunological functions in sablefish, our goal was to develop a mammalian fluorescent bioparticle assay that can viably analyze the efficiency of phagocytosis, an important function of the immune system....
Spiropyrans are a family of photosensitive molecules their hydrophobic properties when irradiated with light. Since spiropyran can be controlled by light, it can be used to regulate transport across membrane media. The ability to control the release of a substance onto a platform is promising in reducing the cost of...
A literature review for a research project being done in partnership with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission, which will look at non-breeding California sea lion males in the Columbia River Basin that have been preying on migratory salmon. This will be...
In order to reduce the cost of lignocellulosic ethanol production, a model was previously developed to predict the amount of fermentable sugar released based on parameters concerning both biomass and enzymes. To validate this model, enzymatic hydrolysis must be carried out using individual purified cellulase enzymes. Endo-1,4-β-D-glucanase I (EG I),...
Parents play an essential role in their child’s development of the skills needed for self-regulation. The current study examined the relationship between parental marital status and child self-regulation. Analyzing a sample of 328 preschool children, results indicate having married parents is related to higher self-regulation in children. These results suggest...
One of the largest ecosystems in the United States, sagebrush-steppe communities are currently in peril and threaten to impact at least 150 species of vertebrates (Hagen 2011). The decline of sagebrush habitat is exacerbated through an interaction of threats and feedbacks, including fire and invasive species, making the management of...
The purpose of this research was to discover if using online homework contributes to an overall higher enjoyment of the Introductory Psychology class, given that other factors are held constant. Students who used the online homework PsychPortlal for the Introductory Psychology 202 class would rate the “overall enjoyment of the...
Ocean acidification is negatively impacting organisms that use calcium carbonate to form their shells. Increasing OA conditions are putting a strain on these calcareous animals by weakening their shells, thus causing them to become more vulnerable to predation. Worsening shell integrity may lead to a decline in hard-shelled prey populations...
BCL11B, a gene regulatory transcription factor, is known to be a regulator of T cell development in the immune system, and has been identified as a tumor suppressor for T cell leukemias. Defining the molecular events that regulate the activity of BCL11B will provide potential drug targets that will aid...
The Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae, has been introduced to North America in an effort to control the invasive plant Jacobaea vulgaris. The Cinnabar moth is the main host of Nosema tyriae. When infection levels are high, N. tyriae can shorten the lifespan and affect reproduction of the Cinnabar moths. The...
Research paper for GEOG323 (Climatology) class describing the effects of physiographic setting, climate elements related to energy, moisture, and pressure and corresponding results on New Zealand's North Island Climate. The paper analyzes major circulation modes, weather patterns and extremes, climate change, and the overall climate type of the region.
This paper is an assignment for my Ichthyology class at Oregon State University. I was tasked with creating a new fish species that is scientifically possible and telling a fictional story of its discovery.
Crime rates affect everything from home values, to the quality of education. Through the use of Social Disorganization Theory this paper will support the hypothesis that there is a correlation between neighborhood upkeep and crime rates within neighborhoods. Social Disorganization theory itself aims to show the correlation between the place...
This is the final version of an essay on a student's connection to the land as part of their Writing Intensive Course, Forest Engineering FE460 Forest Operations Regulations and Policy Issues. The theme for the essay is the student's choice, but must include the history of the piece of land,...