Foodborne illness in the United States continues to be a complex and recurring issue despite our increased understanding of the pathogenic microorganisms responsible. Foodborne illness outbreaks and product recalls linked to pathogenic bacteria have been more frequent in the produce industry (e.g. fruits and vegetables) in the last ten years....
A 2014 Pew Research poll revealed large gaps between public opinion and scientific opinion over environmental and biomedical issues (Funk and Rainie). Similarly, a number of recent popular books have described a growing public mistrust in scientific expertise (Mooney; Storr; Specter). Why is it, then, that so much of the...
Spatial capture-recapture (SCR) is employed for estimating abundance and density of species, particularly those that are cryptic or solitary, and evaluating how population density varies with habitat. However, it is uncertain whether estimates are biased when applied to species that aggregate, such as elk (Cervus canadensis). Wildlife managers in the...
The Cackling goose (Branta hutchinsii minima) population has increased from a low of 20,000 in 1984 to the current population of 220,000-300,000 (Stehn 2012, Sanders 2013). As the Cackling goose population began to recover in the late 1990s, the majority of the population relocated from wintering in California to the...
A study is conducted to provide information useful to the future development of agro-pastoralists
in the Kolda Region through an economic and socio-cultural analysis of the
practice of stabling. Two main issues are addressed: the generation and distribution of
profits and the factors related to adoption of stabling. A partial...
Climate-induced range overlap can result in novel interactions between similar species and potentially lead to competitive exclusion. The Western Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth and is experiencing a poleward climate migration. This transition from a polar to sub-polar environment has resulted in a...
The determination of failure is complicated when a structural
element is subjected to combined rather than simple stresses. This
is especially true when the principle of superposition does not apply.
For such cases, tests of the element under the expected loads are
required to determine its failure criteria.
In this...
Future scenarios of global climate change rely on large-scale climate envelope models that do not account for local climatic conditions to which organisms most closely respond. Shifts in species distributions and phenology driven by climate change are well-documented, yet we lack a strong understanding of how climate change will influence...
Year-round habitat use of marine predators provides knowledge of important marine areas throughout different life stages. Large-scale, environmental variability, both in space and time, causes changes in the behavior and distribution of marine predators that are important to quantify for conservation. In the Northern California Current System (NCCS), common murres...
Ocean acidification (OA), the change in ocean chemistry due to increasing concentrations of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, is an environmental problem that is an active area of scientific research yet remains largely outside of the public’s awareness. It is often assumed that if we raise OA awareness, then...
Irrigated agriculture accounts for 90 percent of consumptive use of freshwater in the western US and is considered the largest contributor to nonpoint source water pollution. The diffuse nature of most water quality and quantity challenges necessitates institutions that can more effectively engage agricultural producers in strategic, integrated, watershed-scale approaches...
Pesticides benefit agriculture by increasing crop yield, quality, and security. However, pesticides may inadvertently harm bees, which are valuable as pollinators. Thus, candidate pesticides in development pipelines must be assessed for toxicity to bees.
Leveraging a data set of 382 molecules with toxicity labels from honey bee exposure experiments, we...
This study was set up to examine selected aspects of
the knowledge of welding metallurgy that is a part of the
background of present teacher educators who teach welding
courses for Industrial Arts majors.
Specifically this study was made to answer the following
questions:
1. What knowledge is now possessed...
Rapid rates of biodiversity loss have supported the notion that Earth is experiencing a sixth major extinction event. The causes of worldwide biodiversity loss are multifaceted and context dependent. One of the most prominent groups experiencing population declines and extinctions are amphibians. Several pathogens and their associated diseases are especially...
The high-order finite element S[subscript N] transport equations are solved on several test problems to investigate the behavior of the discretization method on meshes with curved edges in X-Y geometry. Simpler problems ensured the correct implementation of MFEM, the general fi nite element library employed. A convergence study using the...
Soil is a valuable medium when investigating the past-- from understanding rates of development, landform evolution, to the construction of various predictive models. Landforms and sediments provide insight into depositional environments and soil morphology indicates pedogenic change within those landforms. The rate at which pedogenesis occurs has been quantitatively measured...
The purpose of this thesis is to argue that LeBron James’ expressions of activism are, in many ways, perceived as insincere, hypocritical or disingenuous to his followers on the social media platform Twitter. Using the theoretical framework of Affect Theory and Plutchik’s wheel of emotions, a close reading was conducted...
Marine heatwaves (“MHWs”) are discrete periods of anomalously warm ocean conditions that can lead to shifts in the distribution and abundance of marine organisms. Low-trophic level, pelagic forage species are frequently among those affected by MHWs, often resulting in considerable impacts upon their predators. In the North Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic...
Rare plant reintroductions are a critical conservation tool for the augmentation of diminishing populations, or re-establishment of extirpated populations. Analysis of reintroduction failures suggests that a sophisticated understanding of species biology, ecology, and habitat is essential for producing self-sustaining rare plant populations. This study sought to generate that background knowledge...
The aim of this study is to explore how women who identify as both active, believing Mormons and as feminists negotiate the contradictions between an ideology that values equality (feminism) and a religion that values patriarchy (Mormonism). Data were gathered through recorded and transcribed interviews with women who identify as...
The law commonly referred to as Title IX, which was passed in 1972, called for an end to sex-based discrimination in educational and federally-funded settings. Before long, it became particularly associated with the quest for equality for women’s sports. As Title IX was a major catalyst in advancing and even...
This research was conducted to determine the effects of
temperature and competition on seedling root and shoot growth of
cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) and 5 collections of Idaho fescue
(Festuca idahoensis. Elmer). For the temperature study, seedlings
were grown in environmental chambers with 16 hours day/8 hours night, at
temperatures...
It is well documented that greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) populations have been in decline throughout their range in the western United States. Currently, sage-grouse occupy approximately 56% of their historic distribution prior to European settlement. Numerous factors have been cited as potential causes for declining productivity and contraction...
The intermittent or cyclic application of water to
furrows or borders, a method known as "surge flow irrigation",
can significantly improve the advance characteristics
of surface irrigation. Numerous field studies have
shown that the advance of furrows is considerably more
rapid when irrigated by surge flow than by the conventional,...
Climate change is increasing the severity of pest and pathogen infestations affecting forests. Resulting shifts in disturbance patterns can have substantial ecological, social, and economic impacts on forested ecosystems and their dependent communities. Researchers are actively investigating methods to improve tree resistance to specific pests and pathogens and enhance forest...
The archaeological resources contained in Corvallis Riverfront
Commemorative Park (RCP) have a great potential to add to the historical
record of the warehouse district of the original town of Marysville (Corvallis).
The City of Corvallis' proposed Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project and
proposed changes to Riverfront Commemorative Park threaten to...
The effects of alfaxalone (A-HPCD), propofol (P), ketamine-diazepam (KD) and tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) administered IV in dogs on cardiovascular and respiratory systems, acid-base balance and electrolytes have been reported in the literature, but a study that compares IV TZ to the other induction protocols (IP) is needed. Six dogs enrolled in...
Nitroaromatic compounds have important chemical applications and can be found in nature as pollution sources. Synthetic nitroaromatic compounds have been used in a variety of materials including explosives, pharmaceuticals, dyes, plastics, and pesticides. These compounds can find their way into the environment through normal or improper disposal methods.
Poly-aromatic compounds...
Red Light Ladies presents a perspective on prostitution in North America, within the context of the western mining frontier. A biographical profile of the frontier
prostitutor is presented, along with an archaeological model of settlement patterns and material culture. Settlement patterns and demographic changes in the prostitutor
population are hypothetically...
The significance of geology is commonly overlooked by the general public and underrepresented in free-choice learning environments including national parks that exhibit spectacular examples of geological features and processes. Parks are a major contributor to public learning, and a key way to teach how geology influences many aspects of our...