The Hanford Nuclear Reservation drew public ire during the 1980s and 1990s when activist groups forced the declassification of 19,000 documents and discovered proof of accidental and intentional releases of radioactive materials into the environment. These releases had been kept from the public. Although many locals had for decades wondered...
The bimolecular reaction of two carbenoid species resulting in the formation of a carbon-carbon double bond (pi-system), referred to herein as carbenoid eliminative cross-coupling (CEXC), involves a series of three fundamental steps: (i) ate-complex formation (transmetalation), (ii) 1,2-metalate rearrangement, and (iii) beta-elimination. All three steps are stereospecific and so the...
Starch is a significant component of the human diet and the glucose produced through its digestion provides a critical source of energy. When starch enters the mouth, salivary α-amylase hydrolyzes it into maltooligosaccharides (MOS, degree of polymerization [DP] 3-20) and maltopolysaccharides (MPS, DP >20). Previous studies have found that humans...
When observers monitor for infrequent signals for extended durations, they generally experience a decline in detections over time. This decline is termed the vigilance decrement. Current theories of vigilance attribute the decrement to three potential mechanisms: conservative shifts in response bias, losses of sensitivity, and an increased rate of attentional...
With the rapid advancement of educational technology and the need for personalized, engaging content to accommodate diverse learning needs, Virtual Reality (VR) holds promises for the present and future. However, VR applications suffer from challenges, including usability concerns, lack of pedagogical value, and evaluation standards. This thesis focuses on two...
In order to mitigate climate change and increase sustainability, many states and nations have introduced policies intended to support the growth of renewable energy sources. Among these sources, wind energy has risen most prominently in the 21st century. However, its rise has been accompanied by various constraints and by local...
In computer science, learning abstract fundamental programming concepts requiring students to understand memory management can be very difficult and lead to misunderstandings that carry on into advanced topics. This is especially true in data structures with abstract data types. Understanding how novice students think and reason about data structures is...
The rapid pace of climate change is increasing tree mortality and highlighting the need to improve the mechanistic understanding of plant function under increased water stress. However, the processes that control soil moisture availability in steep mountainous terrain are poorly understood, as are the relative effects of atmospheric and soil...
Various soil tests are routinely used in the United States to predict soil lime requirement. New non-hazardous methods have recently been proposed for adoption in Oregon, however the accuracy of these methods for Oregon soils has not been established. The objectives of this investigation were: (a) to document and describe...
Prebiotics are a subset of dietary fiber that is growing in demand within the food industry. The health benefits of prebiotics have been well established, leading to the increase in its incorporation into various food products. Given the importance of prebiotics as functional ingredients, it is important to understand their...