Streamflow patterns are a result of the interaction of many factors, including climate, vegetation, geology, and topography. Analyses indicate that streamflow patterns have changed around the United States over the past century, raising questions about the possible role of climate variability as a driver of water yield. This thesis examines...
A microchannel-based hemodialyzer offers a novel approach to hemodialysis practice and holds many promises for improving dialysis treatment efficiency and quality of life for kidney patients. The hollow fiber hemodialyzer, a conventional dialysis device, has certain limitations including non-uniformity of the dialysate flow path which necessitates the use of a...
This work introduces a new methodology to design transportation fuels offering improved efficiency and reduced emissions, aimed to complement both traditional and emerging engine technologies. Many of these emerging technologies are centered around exploiting low temperature combustion (LTC) strategies that offer improved efficiency and reduced emissions. However, a standardized fuel...
In many regions of the world, a significant portion of the surface water originates in mountain headwaters where the timing and magnitude of streamflow is largely dictated by the seasonal storage of precipitation as snowpack and long-term storage as glaciers. Accumulation, persistence, and melt of snow and ice are functions...
The intent of this report is to provide a brief description of water quality issues in Nicaragua, Uganda and Bangladesh, and the technologies available to address these issues. The water quality parameters considered include: bacterial contamination, heavy metals and arsenic, pesticides and industrious chemicals, turbidity, radiological characteristics, and taste and...
The potential of red blood cell (RBC) and platelet damage was studied for a novel microfluidic hemoperfusion device currently in development at Oregon State University for use in treating sepsis. COMSOL 4.4's computational fluid dynamics (CFD) module was used to examine shear rate profiles in laminar, Newtonian blood flow throughout...
Fuel reduction treatments are being applied to public lands, affecting
significant acreage at considerable expense. This study compares the short term
effects on a chaparral plant community of two different fuel reduction methods, brush
mastication and "hand piling and burning" (HPB). Ceanothus cuneatus dominated
the southwestern Oregon study sites where...
Full Text:
AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF
Kendra G. Sikes for the degree of
Education as a right has taken off internationally with expanded national policies in recent years. Across Africa over 80% of countries have abolished tuition fees for primary education and several have made the leap to free secondary education as well. With decreased financial barriers keeping kids out of the classroom,...
Increasing access to modern forms of energy in developing countries is a
crucial component to eliminating extreme poverty around the world. Pico-hydro
schemes (less than 5-kW range) can provide environmentally sustainable electricity
and mechanical power to rural communities, generally more cost-effectively than
diesel/gasoline generators, wind turbines, or solar photovoltaic systems....
During spring and early summer hydropower projects are often forced to spill water through their spillways due to increased river flows of the runoff season. Flows which are directed through spillways--instead of through turbines--contain a substantial amount of energy. Stemming from the high energy content, spillway flows entrain air at...