Microplastics (<5mm diameter) are present in a considerable number of marine and aquatic species. Understanding which species, the global spatial distribution, and what quantities of microplastics are present is extremely important for understanding the potential impacts they could have on recreationally important organisms and for the assessment of risk. We...
The topics in this dissertation are centered around the way that trees respond to environmental stress in the climates where they occur. Though forests across the planet are expected to experience change in local climate due to historic and ongoing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the effects of climate change will...
The climate and geologic conditions of the Pacific Northwest leaves its roads highly susceptible to rockfall hazards. Rockfalls often occur on steep slopes that experience heavy rainfall, groundwater seepage, or strong shaking from earthquakes. The unpredictable nature of these events often creates substantial problems for communities, transportation infrastructure, and the...
Atmospheric carbon reduction is arguably the most crucial facet among efforts to mitigate climate change. The Fifth International Panel of Climate Change report emphasizes a worldwide goal of maintaining global temperature elevation less than 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures. This report also acknowledges without the proper utilization of counteractive emission strategies...
A nickel-based Hastelloy C22 powder with a nominal composition of Ni-21.30Cr-13.36Mo-1.92Co-2.94W-3.85Fe-0.23Mn-0.3V(wt%) and particle size distribution of D₁₀=23.8±0.3 μm, D₅₀=37.5±0.2μm, and D₉₀=59.3±1.1 μm was gas atomized to be used as a feedstock in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). In this study, laser power and scanning speed were optimized to manufacture specimens...
Several wave energy converter designs have been recently proposed that are made of flexible materials. Flexible devices are able to generate electricity by being stretched, and are intended to simplify deployment and maintenance concerns over existing wave energy devices. Due to the relative infancy of flexible wave energy converters, however,...
Olive production potential in Oregon was researched in a multi-disciplinary approach, including a grower survey, a propagation greenhouse study, and a field study, from 2018 through 2020. The Oregon Olive Grower Survey was designed to collect information relating to orchard establishment and management practices, knowledge and understanding of these practices,...
The commercial Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) fishery is Oregon’s largest trap-based fishery. Each year, crab vessels discard millions of pounds of bait, including squid, razor clams, and sardines, into the near-coastal ocean. Although the fishery season typically runs from December 1st through August 14th, most landings occur within the first...
Forest composition in Paraguay has been in a state of change for the past half century due to land management practices, forest fragmentation, and deforestation for agriculture. How these factors affect dendrological diversity and wood anatomy in Paraguay is not well understood. This thesis documents Paraguayan forest composition on the...
Smart home devices, such as voice assistants, smart lights, and smart video doorbells have become a part of end users' daily lives. Many of these devices combine their features with other services and smart devices to create a simple and efficient user experience. This is partly because of the contribution...