Search

Search Results

• 1. [Article] PSYCHOSOCIAL AND ENDOCRINE ANTECEDENTS OF RESPONSES TO SOCIAL-EVALUATIVE STRESS

  Stress often precedes the onset of physical and mental health disorders, leading to costly and extended disability and even increased risk for death. I investigate psychosocial and endocrine precursors ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: PSYCHOSOCIAL AND ENDOCRINE ANTECEDENTS OF RESPONSES TO SOCIAL-EVALUATIVE STRESS Author: Knight, Erik Year: 2017 Stress often precedes the onset of physical and mental health disorders, leading to costly and extended disability and even increased risk for death. I investigate psychosocial and endocrine precursors to stress responses, specifically examining the causal effects of status-relevant factors that modulate endocrine, affective, and behavioral responses to social-evaluative stressors. For example, while high social status reduces stress responses in numerous species, this stress-buffering effect of status may dissipate or even reverse during times of hierarchical instability. Similarly, some research links testosterone to reduced stress system activity, but correlational research indicates that higher testosterone is related to increased stress responses in threatening social situations. In each case, the causal influence of these psychosocial (status and hierarchy stability) and endocrine (testosterone) antecedents to stress responses was unclear. Results from this work (Chapter 2) reveal that high status in a stable hierarchy buffered stress responses and improved behavioral responses to the stressor, but high status in an unstable hierarchy boosted stress responses and did not lead to better performance. This general pattern of effects was observed across endocrine (cortisol and testosterone), psychological (feeling in control), and behavioral (competence, dominance, and warmth) responses to the stressor. Further (Chapters 4 & 6), exogenous testosterone treatment caused increased motivated persistence – which can help persevere through stressful encounters – but, once exposed to a stressor, testosterone caused increased cortisol reactivity, increased negative affect, and decreased motivation in response to social-evaluative stress, especially for individuals high in trait dominance. This work provides evidence of the causal effects of psychosocial and endocrine factors on stress responses and demonstrates the importance of considering these status-relevant precursors when investigating stress within social contexts. Title: PSYCHOSOCIAL AND ENDOCRINE ANTECEDENTS OF RESPONSES TO SOCIAL-EVALUATIVE STRESS Author: Knight, Erik Year: 2017 Stress often precedes the onset of physical and mental health disorders, leading to costly and extended disability and even increased risk for death. I investigate psychosocial and endocrine precursors to stress responses, specifically examining the causal effects of status-relevant factors that modulate endocrine, affective, and behavioral responses to social-evaluative stressors. For example, while high social status reduces stress responses in numerous species, this stress-buffering effect of status may dissipate or even reverse during times of hierarchical instability. Similarly, some research links testosterone to reduced stress system activity, but correlational research indicates that higher testosterone is related to increased stress responses in threatening social situations. In each case, the causal influence of these psychosocial (status and hierarchy stability) and endocrine (testosterone) antecedents to stress responses was unclear. Results from this work (Chapter 2) reveal that high status in a stable hierarchy buffered stress responses and improved behavioral responses to the stressor, but high status in an unstable hierarchy boosted stress responses and did not lead to better performance. This general pattern of effects was observed across endocrine (cortisol and testosterone), psychological (feeling in control), and behavioral (competence, dominance, and warmth) responses to the stressor. Further (Chapters 4 & 6), exogenous testosterone treatment caused increased motivated persistence – which can help persevere through stressful encounters – but, once exposed to a stressor, testosterone caused increased cortisol reactivity, increased negative affect, and decreased motivation in response to social-evaluative stress, especially for individuals high in trait dominance. This work provides evidence of the causal effects of psychosocial and endocrine factors on stress responses and demonstrates the importance of considering these status-relevant precursors when investigating stress within social contexts. Close

• 2. [Article] Resveratrol Influence on Lifespan among Caenorhabditis Elegans Genetic Variants & Implications for Personalized Medicine

  46 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Human Physiology and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Resveratrol Influence on Lifespan among Caenorhabditis Elegans Genetic Variants & Implications for Personalized Medicine Author: Caul, Tela Amber Year: 2017 46 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Human Physiology and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Spring 2017 Title: Resveratrol Influence on Lifespan among Caenorhabditis Elegans Genetic Variants & Implications for Personalized Medicine Author: Caul, Tela Amber Year: 2017 46 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Human Physiology and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Spring 2017 Close

• 3. [Article] The impact hazard.

  48 pages

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The impact hazard. Author: Morrison, David, Chapman, Clark R., Slovic, Paul Year: 2017, 1994 48 pages Title: The impact hazard. Author: Morrison, David, Chapman, Clark R., Slovic, Paul Year: 2017, 1994 48 pages Close

• 4. [Article] Characterizing perception of ecological risk

  35 pages

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Characterizing perception of ecological risk Author: McDaniels, Timothy, Axelrod, Lawrence J., Slovic, Paul Year: 2017, 1995 35 pages Title: Characterizing perception of ecological risk Author: McDaniels, Timothy, Axelrod, Lawrence J., Slovic, Paul Year: 2017, 1995 35 pages Close

• 5. [Article] Perceptions of ecological risk from natural hazards

  38 pages

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Perceptions of ecological risk from natural hazards Author: Axelrod, Lawrence J., McDaniels, Timothy, Slovic, Paul Year: 2017, 1999 38 pages Title: Perceptions of ecological risk from natural hazards Author: Axelrod, Lawrence J., McDaniels, Timothy, Slovic, Paul Year: 2017, 1999 38 pages Close

• 6. [Article] Investigating the Role of Immunity and Other Selective Pressures on the Assembly of the Gut Microbiota in Zebrafish and Humans

  Over the past few decades, it has become increasingly apparent that host-associated microbial communities play an integral role in the development, physiology, and health of their host organisms. All hosts ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Investigating the Role of Immunity and Other Selective Pressures on the Assembly of the Gut Microbiota in Zebrafish and Humans Author: Stagaman, Keaton Year: 2016 Over the past few decades, it has become increasingly apparent that host-associated microbial communities play an integral role in the development, physiology, and health of their host organisms. All hosts have evolved mechanisms to filter the microbial taxa that comprise their resident intestinal microbial community, or gut microbiota. Utilizing the zebrafish as a model host organism, we documented the development of the gut microbiota through time, and found a significant shift in the composition of the gut microbiota after the onset of adaptive immunity. This led us to hypothesize that adaptive immunity is an important determinant of gut microbiota composition. We tested this hypothesis using wild type and rag1-/- zebrafish, which lack a functional adaptive immune system. Additionally we tested the robustness of the effects of adaptive immunity to dispersal of microbes between immune-compromised and immune-competent genotypes. We found that adaptive immunity had less of an effect on the composition of the gut microbiota than we expected, although there were intriguing differences in the nature of selection imposed when adaptive immunity was present than when it was absent. Because “westernization”, or market-integration, has been associated with significant changes in the human microbiota and certain health risks, we used similar analyses to those we applied to the zebrafish system to determine whether market-integration alters the filtering effects of inflammation and intestinal helminth parasites on the intestinal microbial community. We found that market-integration increased inter-subject dissimilarity and reduced inter-subject dispersal. Even small changes in the inflammation marker, CRP, were associated with differences in the gut microbiota, but these effects were reduced in the presence of helminth infection, which has been hypothesized to affect the microbiota by reducing inflammation. In total, this dissertation provides evidence for the nature and importance of host filters of the gut microbiota across two vertebrate species, as well as providing a framework for future studies of the effects of such filters on the assembly of the gut microbiota. This dissertation includes previously published, and unpublished, co-authored material. Title: Investigating the Role of Immunity and Other Selective Pressures on the Assembly of the Gut Microbiota in Zebrafish and Humans Author: Stagaman, Keaton Year: 2016 Over the past few decades, it has become increasingly apparent that host-associated microbial communities play an integral role in the development, physiology, and health of their host organisms. All hosts have evolved mechanisms to filter the microbial taxa that comprise their resident intestinal microbial community, or gut microbiota. Utilizing the zebrafish as a model host organism, we documented the development of the gut microbiota through time, and found a significant shift in the composition of the gut microbiota after the onset of adaptive immunity. This led us to hypothesize that adaptive immunity is an important determinant of gut microbiota composition. We tested this hypothesis using wild type and rag1-/- zebrafish, which lack a functional adaptive immune system. Additionally we tested the robustness of the effects of adaptive immunity to dispersal of microbes between immune-compromised and immune-competent genotypes. We found that adaptive immunity had less of an effect on the composition of the gut microbiota than we expected, although there were intriguing differences in the nature of selection imposed when adaptive immunity was present than when it was absent. Because “westernization”, or market-integration, has been associated with significant changes in the human microbiota and certain health risks, we used similar analyses to those we applied to the zebrafish system to determine whether market-integration alters the filtering effects of inflammation and intestinal helminth parasites on the intestinal microbial community. We found that market-integration increased inter-subject dissimilarity and reduced inter-subject dispersal. Even small changes in the inflammation marker, CRP, were associated with differences in the gut microbiota, but these effects were reduced in the presence of helminth infection, which has been hypothesized to affect the microbiota by reducing inflammation. In total, this dissertation provides evidence for the nature and importance of host filters of the gut microbiota across two vertebrate species, as well as providing a framework for future studies of the effects of such filters on the assembly of the gut microbiota. This dissertation includes previously published, and unpublished, co-authored material. Close

• 7. [Article] Essays in Environmental and Public Economics

  Benefit-cost analysis of environmental policies typically focuses on benefits to human health and well-being. When it comes to humans' willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements in the quality of life for ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Essays in Environmental and Public Economics Author: Vander Naald, Brian Year: 2012 Benefit-cost analysis of environmental policies typically focuses on benefits to human health and well-being. When it comes to humans' willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements in the quality of life for other species, however, the evidence is limited. We argue that the other-species morbidity-reduction component of WTP should be calculated net of any "outrage" component associated with the cause of the harm. This net WTP is likely to be correlated with the premium that people are willing to pay for chicken products from birds for which the quality of life has been enhanced by improved animal welfare measures. This paper uses a conjoint choice stated preference survey to reveal the nature of systematic heterogeneity in preferences for "humanely raised" versus "conventionally raised" chicken. We also use latent class analysis to distinguish between two classes of people - those who are willing to pay a premium for humanely raised chicken and those who are not. Proposition 21 on California's 2010 ballot concerned an $18 annual surcharge on vehicles to support state parks. Prop 21 failed, implying 25% of these parks risk closure. Voting patterns at the Census tract level depend on gross price, incomes, age profiles, political ideology, environmental preferences, the availability of local substitutes, and park salience. We simulate counterfactual scenarios under which Prop 21 might have passed and use county-level hold-out samples to illustrate the predictive ability of our model. The California Air Resources Board is slowly phasing out perchloroethylene as the main input in dry cleaning operations in the state. Exploiting differential implementation of this regulation between SCAQMD (South Coast Air Quality Management District) and the rest of the state, we examine the effect of this regulation on the propensity for dry cleaning businesses to exit the industry. We find that regulation has encouraged early exit from the industry in some cases. We also find that regulation decreased ambient concentrations of perchloroethylene in the atmosphere. This dissertation contains both published and unpublished co-authored material. It also contains an appendix for chapter II as a supplemental file. Title: Essays in Environmental and Public Economics Author: Vander Naald, Brian Year: 2012 Benefit-cost analysis of environmental policies typically focuses on benefits to human health and well-being. When it comes to humans' willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements in the quality of life for other species, however, the evidence is limited. We argue that the other-species morbidity-reduction component of WTP should be calculated net of any "outrage" component associated with the cause of the harm. This net WTP is likely to be correlated with the premium that people are willing to pay for chicken products from birds for which the quality of life has been enhanced by improved animal welfare measures. This paper uses a conjoint choice stated preference survey to reveal the nature of systematic heterogeneity in preferences for "humanely raised" versus "conventionally raised" chicken. We also use latent class analysis to distinguish between two classes of people - those who are willing to pay a premium for humanely raised chicken and those who are not. Proposition 21 on California's 2010 ballot concerned an $18 annual surcharge on vehicles to support state parks. Prop 21 failed, implying 25% of these parks risk closure. Voting patterns at the Census tract level depend on gross price, incomes, age profiles, political ideology, environmental preferences, the availability of local substitutes, and park salience. We simulate counterfactual scenarios under which Prop 21 might have passed and use county-level hold-out samples to illustrate the predictive ability of our model. The California Air Resources Board is slowly phasing out perchloroethylene as the main input in dry cleaning operations in the state. Exploiting differential implementation of this regulation between SCAQMD (South Coast Air Quality Management District) and the rest of the state, we examine the effect of this regulation on the propensity for dry cleaning businesses to exit the industry. We find that regulation has encouraged early exit from the industry in some cases. We also find that regulation decreased ambient concentrations of perchloroethylene in the atmosphere. This dissertation contains both published and unpublished co-authored material. It also contains an appendix for chapter II as a supplemental file. Close

• 8. [Article] Risk to Maintenance-Dependent Species from Orthodoxy in Species-Based Land-Use Regulation

  270 pages

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Risk to Maintenance-Dependent Species from Orthodoxy in Species-Based Land-Use Regulation Author: Novick, Adam Year: 2013 270 pages Title: Risk to Maintenance-Dependent Species from Orthodoxy in Species-Based Land-Use Regulation Author: Novick, Adam Year: 2013 270 pages Close

• 9. [Article] Enslaved to the Species: The Confluence of Animality, Immanence, and the Female Body in Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex

  ix, 105 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number.

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Enslaved to the Species: The Confluence of Animality, Immanence, and the Female Body in Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex Author: Brown, Lori Jean, 1968- Year: 2009, 2008 ix, 105 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. Title: Enslaved to the Species: The Confluence of Animality, Immanence, and the Female Body in Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex Author: Brown, Lori Jean, 1968- Year: 2009, 2008 ix, 105 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. Close

• 10. [Article] Martin Creek instream restoration decision documentation

  4 pp. Portions of the stream reach in Section 35, T. 31 S., R. 7 W. and Section 2, T. 32 S., R. 7 W. are located on lands owned and managed by Roseburg Resources Company. The remainder of the reach to ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Martin Creek instream restoration decision documentation Author: United States. Bureau of Land Management. Roseburg District Office Year: 2008, 2004 4 pp. Portions of the stream reach in Section 35, T. 31 S., R. 7 W. and Section 2, T. 32 S., R. 7 W. are located on lands owned and managed by Roseburg Resources Company. The remainder of the reach to be treated is located on BLM-managed lands in Section 35, T. 31 S, R. 7 W. and Section 1, T. 32 S., R. 7 W., W.M. Captured July 24, 2007. Title: Martin Creek instream restoration decision documentation Author: United States. Bureau of Land Management. Roseburg District Office Year: 2008, 2004 4 pp. Portions of the stream reach in Section 35, T. 31 S., R. 7 W. and Section 2, T. 32 S., R. 7 W. are located on lands owned and managed by Roseburg Resources Company. The remainder of the reach to be treated is located on BLM-managed lands in Section 35, T. 31 S, R. 7 W. and Section 1, T. 32 S., R. 7 W., W.M. Captured July 24, 2007. Close