Oregon's wine grape industry uses yield targets to achieve quality in Pinot Noir vineyards, and this practice has led to increases in cost of production. A multiapproach study was conducted to investigate how vineyard target yields are set, why yield thresholds exist, and who influences decisions related to vineyard target...
Computational fluid dynamics conjugate heat transfer simulations were performed on a packed bed test facility using Dowtherm-A as the working fluid. Multiple test cases were simulated for a Reynolds number range of 188 – 1524 and a set heater power of 60 kW. Temperature profiles were extracted, and the near-wall...
The licensing of novel nuclear reactor power plant designs requires extensive research and testing. A significant portion of this work is dedicated to the design and operation of scaled-down testing facilities that emulate various plant conditions. The data gathered from these test facilities is used to compare to predictive models....
Winegrapes are an important crop for Oregon agriculture, ranking amongst the top ten agricultural commodities based on farmgate value. The most widely planted winegrape cultivar in the state is ‘Pinot noir’ (Vitis vinifera L.), and the majority of acreage is produced in the Willamette Valley. Production of quality ‘Pinot noir’...
Increasing interest in hydrogen as a clean and efficient energy carrier has driven the need to improve its production and distribution methods. Of particular interest is the natural gas reforming process which currently accounts for 48% of hydrogen production in the United States. Existing natural gas delivery infrastructure and challenges...
The purpose of this study was to evaluate a native remnant forest in Westport, Connecticut. The study site is a fragmented woodland located near a highly urbanized area of roadways and development. Preliminary descriptive information was collected for a partial sampling of tree stands in an attempt to obtain baseline...
Reintroduction programs are used to re-establish species back into their historical habitat. Most reintroduction programs have failed and few papers have evaluated factors that may be important to Pacific salmon. The 158 meter tall Cougar Dam has blocked Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from accessing 40 kilometers of historical spawning and...
Interest in increased fuel supply stability has driven an investigation into possible alternate fuel for use in the WWR-SM research reactor at the Institute of Nuclear Physics in Uzbekistan. The WWR-SM is a high-power, pool-type research reactor currently utilizing IRT-4M fuel made by a single Russian supplier. A candidate for...
Under-5 mortality has decreased globally, but millions of children still die every year. In Bangladesh, respiratory infection and diarrheal disease remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality for children under-5, despite incredible progress in the past three decades. Immune system development begins in utero and continues into adulthood. Toxic environmental...
The Virtual Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Process Development Project provides the context for the two areas of the research presented in this dissertation. The first area, generally referred to as feedback in this dissertation, focuses on student learning and the interactions of students and instructors that take place in the...