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• 1. [Article] Increasing the Reliability of Ecological Models Using Modern Software Engineering Techniques

  Modern software development techniques are largely unknown to ecologists. Typically, ecological models and other software tools are developed for limited research purposes, and additional capabilities ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Increasing the Reliability of Ecological Models Using Modern Software Engineering Techniques Author: Scheller, Robert M., Sturtevant, Brian R., Gustafson, Eric J., Ward, Brendan C., Mladenoff, David J. Year: 2009 Modern software development techniques are largely unknown to ecologists. Typically, ecological models and other software tools are developed for limited research purposes, and additional capabilities are added later, usually in an ad hoc manner. Modern software engineering techniques can substantially increase scientific rigor and confidence in ecological models and tools. These techniques have the potential to transform how ecological software is conceived and developed, improve precision, reduce errors, and increase scientific credibility. We describe our re-engineering of the forest landscape model LANDIS (LANdscape DIsturbance and Succession) to illustrate the advantages of using common software engineering practices. Title: Increasing the Reliability of Ecological Models Using Modern Software Engineering Techniques Author: Scheller, Robert M., Sturtevant, Brian R., Gustafson, Eric J., Ward, Brendan C., Mladenoff, David J. Year: 2009 Modern software development techniques are largely unknown to ecologists. Typically, ecological models and other software tools are developed for limited research purposes, and additional capabilities are added later, usually in an ad hoc manner. Modern software engineering techniques can substantially increase scientific rigor and confidence in ecological models and tools. These techniques have the potential to transform how ecological software is conceived and developed, improve precision, reduce errors, and increase scientific credibility. We describe our re-engineering of the forest landscape model LANDIS (LANdscape DIsturbance and Succession) to illustrate the advantages of using common software engineering practices. Close

• 2. [Article] Designing and Piloting a Program to Provide Water Filters and Improved Cookstoves in Rwanda

  Background: In environmental health interventions addressing water and indoor air quality, multiple determinants contribute to adoption. These may include technology selection, technology distribution ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Designing and Piloting a Program to Provide Water Filters and Improved Cookstoves in Rwanda Author: Barstow, Christina K., Ngabo, Fidele, Rosa, Ghislaine, Majorin, Fiona, Boisson, Sophie, Clasen, Thomas, Thomas, Evan A. Year: 2014 Background: In environmental health interventions addressing water and indoor air quality, multiple determinants contribute to adoption. These may include technology selection, technology distribution and education methods, community engagement with behavior change, and duration and magnitude of implementer engagement. In Rwanda, while the country has the fastest annual reduction in child mortality in the world, the population is still exposed to a disease burden associated with environmental health challenges. Rwanda relies both on direct donor funding and coordination of programs managed by international non-profits and health sector businesses working on these challenges. Methods and Findings: This paper describes the design, implementation and outcomes of a pilot program in 1,943 households across 15 villages in the western province of Rwanda to distribute and monitor the use of household water filters and improved cookstoves. Three key program design criteria include a.) an investment in behavior change messaging and monitoring through community health workers, b.) free distributions to encourage community-wide engagement, and c.) a private-public partnership incentivized by a business model designed to encourage ‘‘pay for performance’’. Over a 5- month period of rigorous monitoring, reported uptake was maintained at greater than 90% for both technologies, although exclusive use of the stove was reported in only 28.5% of households and reported water volume was 1.27 liters per person per day. On-going qualitative monitoring suggest maintenance of comparable adoption rates through at least 16 months after the intervention. Conclusion: High uptake and sustained adoption of a water filter and improved cookstove was measured over a five-month period with indications of continued comparable adoption 16 months after the intervention. The design attributes applied by the implementers may be sufficient in a longer term. In particular, sustained and comprehensive engagement by the program implementer is enabled by a pay-for-performance business model that rewards sustained behavior change. Title: Designing and Piloting a Program to Provide Water Filters and Improved Cookstoves in Rwanda Author: Barstow, Christina K., Ngabo, Fidele, Rosa, Ghislaine, Majorin, Fiona, Boisson, Sophie, Clasen, Thomas, Thomas, Evan A. Year: 2014 Background: In environmental health interventions addressing water and indoor air quality, multiple determinants contribute to adoption. These may include technology selection, technology distribution and education methods, community engagement with behavior change, and duration and magnitude of implementer engagement. In Rwanda, while the country has the fastest annual reduction in child mortality in the world, the population is still exposed to a disease burden associated with environmental health challenges. Rwanda relies both on direct donor funding and coordination of programs managed by international non-profits and health sector businesses working on these challenges. Methods and Findings: This paper describes the design, implementation and outcomes of a pilot program in 1,943 households across 15 villages in the western province of Rwanda to distribute and monitor the use of household water filters and improved cookstoves. Three key program design criteria include a.) an investment in behavior change messaging and monitoring through community health workers, b.) free distributions to encourage community-wide engagement, and c.) a private-public partnership incentivized by a business model designed to encourage ‘‘pay for performance’’. Over a 5- month period of rigorous monitoring, reported uptake was maintained at greater than 90% for both technologies, although exclusive use of the stove was reported in only 28.5% of households and reported water volume was 1.27 liters per person per day. On-going qualitative monitoring suggest maintenance of comparable adoption rates through at least 16 months after the intervention. Conclusion: High uptake and sustained adoption of a water filter and improved cookstove was measured over a five-month period with indications of continued comparable adoption 16 months after the intervention. The design attributes applied by the implementers may be sufficient in a longer term. In particular, sustained and comprehensive engagement by the program implementer is enabled by a pay-for-performance business model that rewards sustained behavior change. Close

• 3. [Article] Assessing the Impact of Water Filters and Improved Cook Stoves on Drinking Water Quality and Household Air Pollution: A Randomised Controlled Trial in Rwanda

  Diarrhea and respiratory infections remain the biggest killers of children under 5 years in developing countries. We conducted a 5-month household randomised controlled trial among 566 households in rural ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Assessing the Impact of Water Filters and Improved Cook Stoves on Drinking Water Quality and Household Air Pollution: A Randomised Controlled Trial in Rwanda Author: Rosa, Ghislaine, Majorin, Fiona, Boisson, Sophie, Barstow, Christina, Johnson, Michael, Kirby, Miles, Ngabo, Fidele, Thomas, Evan A., Clasen, Thomas Year: 2014 Diarrhea and respiratory infections remain the biggest killers of children under 5 years in developing countries. We conducted a 5-month household randomised controlled trial among 566 households in rural Rwanda to assess uptake, compliance and impact on environmental exposures of a combined intervention delivering high-performance water filters and improved stoves for free. Compliance was measured monthly by self-report and spot-check observations. Semicontinuous 24-h PM2.5 monitoring of the cooking area was conducted in a random subsample of 121 households to assess household air pollution, while samples of drinking water from all households were collected monthly to assess the levels of thermotolerant coliforms. Adoption was generally high, with most householders reporting the filters as their primary source of drinking water and the intervention stoves as their primary cooking stove. However, some householders continued to drink untreated water and most continued to cook on traditional stoves. The intervention was associated with a 97.5% reduction in mean fecal indicator bacteria (Williams means 0.5 vs. 20.2 TTC/100 mL, p,0.001) and a median reduction of 48% of 24-h PM2.5 concentrations in the cooking area (p = 0.005). Further studies to increase compliance should be undertaken to better inform large-scale interventions. Title: Assessing the Impact of Water Filters and Improved Cook Stoves on Drinking Water Quality and Household Air Pollution: A Randomised Controlled Trial in Rwanda Author: Rosa, Ghislaine, Majorin, Fiona, Boisson, Sophie, Barstow, Christina, Johnson, Michael, Kirby, Miles, Ngabo, Fidele, Thomas, Evan A., Clasen, Thomas Year: 2014 Diarrhea and respiratory infections remain the biggest killers of children under 5 years in developing countries. We conducted a 5-month household randomised controlled trial among 566 households in rural Rwanda to assess uptake, compliance and impact on environmental exposures of a combined intervention delivering high-performance water filters and improved stoves for free. Compliance was measured monthly by self-report and spot-check observations. Semicontinuous 24-h PM2.5 monitoring of the cooking area was conducted in a random subsample of 121 households to assess household air pollution, while samples of drinking water from all households were collected monthly to assess the levels of thermotolerant coliforms. Adoption was generally high, with most householders reporting the filters as their primary source of drinking water and the intervention stoves as their primary cooking stove. However, some householders continued to drink untreated water and most continued to cook on traditional stoves. The intervention was associated with a 97.5% reduction in mean fecal indicator bacteria (Williams means 0.5 vs. 20.2 TTC/100 mL, p,0.001) and a median reduction of 48% of 24-h PM2.5 concentrations in the cooking area (p = 0.005). Further studies to increase compliance should be undertaken to better inform large-scale interventions. Close

• 4. [Article] Leadership in Sustainable Chemicals Policy: Opportunities for Oregon

  Oregon is uniquely positioned to lead in the development of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals. Existing chemicals policy in the United States does not comprehensively protect human health or the environment ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Leadership in Sustainable Chemicals Policy: Opportunities for Oregon Author: Allen, Jennifer H., Dinno, Alexis Year: 2011 Oregon is uniquely positioned to lead in the development of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals. Existing chemicals policy in the United States does not comprehensively protect human health or the environment from the potential impacts of chemical exposure. Very few of the 84,000 chemical substances produced, processed or imported for commercial purposes in the United States have been studied for health and environmental impacts. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has access to only limited information about potential health or environmental hazards. Manufacturers have the right to withhold what they consider to be confidential business information. Because of this lack of information, in many instances it is impossible for the EPA to demonstrate that a chemical poses a risk. With this weak federal regulatory structure, industry has little incentive to develop safer alternatives. Although legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to strengthen the enforcement capacities of the 35-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act, progress in policy reform at the federal level is slow and thus far inadequate to protect human health and environmental quality. States have a chance to lead the way to safer chemicals policy. Title: Leadership in Sustainable Chemicals Policy: Opportunities for Oregon Author: Allen, Jennifer H., Dinno, Alexis Year: 2011 Oregon is uniquely positioned to lead in the development of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals. Existing chemicals policy in the United States does not comprehensively protect human health or the environment from the potential impacts of chemical exposure. Very few of the 84,000 chemical substances produced, processed or imported for commercial purposes in the United States have been studied for health and environmental impacts. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has access to only limited information about potential health or environmental hazards. Manufacturers have the right to withhold what they consider to be confidential business information. Because of this lack of information, in many instances it is impossible for the EPA to demonstrate that a chemical poses a risk. With this weak federal regulatory structure, industry has little incentive to develop safer alternatives. Although legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to strengthen the enforcement capacities of the 35-year-old Toxic Substances Control Act, progress in policy reform at the federal level is slow and thus far inadequate to protect human health and environmental quality. States have a chance to lead the way to safer chemicals policy. Close

• 5. [Article] Combining and aggregating environmental data for status and trend assessments: challenges and approaches

  To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Springer ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Combining and aggregating environmental data for status and trend assessments: challenges and approaches Author: Schreck, Carl, Molina, Nancy, Harte, Michael J., Hughes, Robert M., Maas-Hebner, Kathleen G., Yeakley, J. Alan To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Springer and can be found at: http://link.springer.com/journal/10661 Title: Combining and aggregating environmental data for status and trend assessments: challenges and approaches Author: Schreck, Carl, Molina, Nancy, Harte, Michael J., Hughes, Robert M., Maas-Hebner, Kathleen G., Yeakley, J. Alan To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Springer and can be found at: http://link.springer.com/journal/10661 Close

• 6. [Article] Yaquina Environmental Solutions and related sampling in Yaquina Bay. Summary of regulations in the state of Oregon

  PDF of powerpoint presentation (12 slides)

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Yaquina Environmental Solutions and related sampling in Yaquina Bay. Summary of regulations in the state of Oregon Author: Arnold, Gary PDF of powerpoint presentation (12 slides) Title: Yaquina Environmental Solutions and related sampling in Yaquina Bay. Summary of regulations in the state of Oregon Author: Arnold, Gary PDF of powerpoint presentation (12 slides) Close

• 7. [Article] Physical and Water Quality Data

  PDF of PowerPoint presentation (18 slides)

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Physical and Water Quality Data Author: Specht, David, Sigleo, Anne, Brown, Cheryl A., Eldridge, Peter, Ozretrich, Robert PDF of PowerPoint presentation (18 slides) Title: Physical and Water Quality Data Author: Specht, David, Sigleo, Anne, Brown, Cheryl A., Eldridge, Peter, Ozretrich, Robert PDF of PowerPoint presentation (18 slides) Close

• 8. [Article] OSU Marine Team: Long-term sampling of ichthyofauna in Yaquina Bay

  PDF of PowerPoint presentation (16 slides)

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: OSU Marine Team: Long-term sampling of ichthyofauna in Yaquina Bay Author: Gallagher, Brett, Heppell, Selina, Heppell, Scott PDF of PowerPoint presentation (16 slides) Title: OSU Marine Team: Long-term sampling of ichthyofauna in Yaquina Bay Author: Gallagher, Brett, Heppell, Selina, Heppell, Scott PDF of PowerPoint presentation (16 slides) Close

• 9. [Article] Oregon State University: Atmospheric/ meteorological sampling at the HMSC and potential improvements

  PDF of PowerPoint presentation (35 slides)

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Oregon State University: Atmospheric/ meteorological sampling at the HMSC and potential improvements Author: Creech, Clay, Barbour, Phil PDF of PowerPoint presentation (35 slides) Title: Oregon State University: Atmospheric/ meteorological sampling at the HMSC and potential improvements Author: Creech, Clay, Barbour, Phil PDF of PowerPoint presentation (35 slides) Close

• 10. [Article] EPA’s Benthic Habitat Data for Yaquina Estuary

  PDF of PowerPoint presentation (15 slides)

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: EPA’s Benthic Habitat Data for Yaquina Estuary Author: DeWitt, Ted PDF of PowerPoint presentation (15 slides) Title: EPA’s Benthic Habitat Data for Yaquina Estuary Author: DeWitt, Ted PDF of PowerPoint presentation (15 slides) Close