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...
One of the main ways that one can accurately gain knowledge of the experiences of students on a college campus is to talk to the students themselves. In this study, we used Photovoice, a participatory action approach, to help better understand the experiences of the students at Oregon State University...
Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host”. A wide variety of putative probiotics exist on the market; however, clinical evidence of their efficacy is lacking. Probiotics have been previously used in the treatment of metabolic diseases like type...
Fires that affect buildings can have disastrous impacts, including significant losses to people, property, and the environment. Understanding how fires can impact structures provides the foundation to prevent structural collapse in fire. It is critical that the effect of fire is studied to protect the safety and welfare of civilians....
Microtubules (MT) are highly dynamic cylindrical-like structures within cells whose growth is controlled by motor proteins, a class of biological machines that walk along the MT while simultaneously regulating MT growth. Here we are interested in the behavior of kinesin-14 motor proteins. Although processive behavior of kinesin-14 motors has been...
Estradiol (E2) plays a role in positive and negative feedback mechanisms of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in female mammals. These mechanisms are regulated by two different populations of kisspeptin (KP)-producing neurons: anteroventral periventricular (AVPV) neurons, which are stimulated by E2, and arcuate (arc) neurons, which are inhibited by E2. AVPV...
Treated wood commodities disposed of in landfills contain chemicals that can migrate into the environment. Wood treatments such as ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate (ACZA) contain heavy metals which prevent the biological degradation of wood. These metals can migrate out of treated wood into soil or groundwater, posing environmental hazards. This...
Invasive plant species are a significant concern in Oregon’s forests, particularly in early-seral sites. Early-seral forests are generated by severe disturbances such as fire or timber harvest, and persist until canopy closure. They are vulnerable to invasion because they have abundant resources, and are important because they provide unique resources....
The phosphoprotein (P protein) in viruses of the Mononegavirales order is known to play an essential role in the completion of viral replication mechanisms. The P protein is involved in stabilizing the viral polymerase and nucleoprotein during RNA transcription and replication, regulating nascent RNA encapsidation by the nucleoprotein, and mediation...
Asians are a minority group that are scarcely represented throughout Hollywood and the film industry. Even when there is some type of inclusion, they are often subjected to stereotypes that have been perpetuated for decades. This contributes to shaping how Asian and Asian Americans are perceived, as well as the...