Search

Search Results

• 101. [Article] Efforts to Curtail the Spread of Adult Entertainment in Portland, Oregon, through the Use of Public Policy and Urban Planning, 1970-1987

  Like many American cities, Portland attempted to use urban planning and policy to control the geographic spread of adult entertainment during the 1970s. Portland’s efforts, however, were complicated by ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Efforts to Curtail the Spread of Adult Entertainment in Portland, Oregon, through the Use of Public Policy and Urban Planning, 1970-1987 Author: Mylott Morehead, Elizabeth Year: 2016 Like many American cities, Portland attempted to use urban planning and policy to control the geographic spread of adult entertainment during the 1970s. Portland’s efforts, however, were complicated by Oregon’s famously liberal state constitution. City Hall, the City Attorney, and the Planning Bureau spent nearly two decades trying to find a solution that would please angry city residents without violating the state constitution. As city officials worked to find a unique solution for their city, the technology used to disseminate adult entertainment was changing. Technological change was more rapid than policy change. The regulations ultimately adopted by the city did not fit the new landscape of adult businesses. Title: Efforts to Curtail the Spread of Adult Entertainment in Portland, Oregon, through the Use of Public Policy and Urban Planning, 1970-1987 Author: Mylott Morehead, Elizabeth Year: 2016 Like many American cities, Portland attempted to use urban planning and policy to control the geographic spread of adult entertainment during the 1970s. Portland’s efforts, however, were complicated by Oregon’s famously liberal state constitution. City Hall, the City Attorney, and the Planning Bureau spent nearly two decades trying to find a solution that would please angry city residents without violating the state constitution. As city officials worked to find a unique solution for their city, the technology used to disseminate adult entertainment was changing. Technological change was more rapid than policy change. The regulations ultimately adopted by the city did not fit the new landscape of adult businesses. Close

• 102. [Article] Solar Energy: New Thin-Film Technology vs. Low Cost Chips for Traditional Technology

  Our class term project focused on solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. The purpose of the project was to answer the question: Who wins the battle: New Thin-film Technology or Low Cost Chips for Traditional ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Solar Energy: New Thin-Film Technology vs. Low Cost Chips for Traditional Technology Author: Amini, Mitra, Spatar, Daria, Swenson, Tina, White, Corey Year: 2011 Our class term project focused on solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. The purpose of the project was to answer the question: Who wins the battle: New Thin-film Technology or Low Cost Chips for Traditional Technology? During the project, a deep industry analysis was performed. Articles from journals such as Energy Policy, Progress InPh otovoltaics: Research And Applications, and Science, for example, were analyzed. Information from reports, laws, and regulations was gathered and thoroughly studied from many sources including: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), International Energy Agency, and European Photovoltaic Industry Association. Title: Solar Energy: New Thin-Film Technology vs. Low Cost Chips for Traditional Technology Author: Amini, Mitra, Spatar, Daria, Swenson, Tina, White, Corey Year: 2011 Our class term project focused on solar photovoltaic (PV) technology. The purpose of the project was to answer the question: Who wins the battle: New Thin-film Technology or Low Cost Chips for Traditional Technology? During the project, a deep industry analysis was performed. Articles from journals such as Energy Policy, Progress InPh otovoltaics: Research And Applications, and Science, for example, were analyzed. Information from reports, laws, and regulations was gathered and thoroughly studied from many sources including: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), International Energy Agency, and European Photovoltaic Industry Association. Close

• 103. [Article] "Do Not Disturb": A Micro-Macro Examination of Intrusions at Work

  Intrusions, or interruptions by others, are a common phenomenon in the modern workplace (Grove, 1983; Jett & George, 2003), particularly in the computing and information-technology (CIT) industry, as cross-specialty, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: "Do Not Disturb": A Micro-Macro Examination of Intrusions at Work Author: Lin, Bing Chun Year: 2013 Intrusions, or interruptions by others, are a common phenomenon in the modern workplace (Grove, 1983; Jett & George, 2003), particularly in the computing and information-technology (CIT) industry, as cross-specialty, and cross-team collaborations become more common (Beck et al., 2001). The present study examines the relationship between day-to-day intrusions (measured Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) and strain reactions and perceived job performance over the week (measured on Thursday) among 150 CIT employees. Using a number of resource-based theories (i.e., Conservation of Resources, Ego Depletion Model, Cognitive Fatigue Model), I hypothesize that participants experiencing more frequent intrusions on a day-to-day basis will experience greater levels of overall strain reactions (i.e., fatigue, self-regulation failure, and cognitive failure), and lower levels of overall perceived job performance for the week. To test these hypotheses, I applied a micro-macro multi-wave design, such that intrusions were measured at the end of three consecutive workdays (Level-1 Predictors) and strain reactions and performance measured on the fourth day (Level-2 Outcomes). Using Structural Equation Modeling and the technique put forth by Croon and van Veldhoven (2007), I specified four models to test my hypotheses, wherein level-1 variables (i.e., day-to-day intrusions) predicted level-2 outcomes (i.e., week-level fatigue, self-regulation failure, cognitive failure, and perceived performance). I found that day-to-day intrusions were significantly positively associated with fatigue, self-regulation failure, and perceived performance. However, day-to-day intrusions were not significantly associated with cognitive failure. These results suggest that intrusions may consume time and self-regulatory resources but may not consume cognitive resources, and that although intrusions cause impairment from a physical and self-regulatory perspective, they may not inhibit cognitive functioning. Future research should further investigate the relationship between intrusions and cognitive functioning. The present study is one of the first to explicitly study intrusions and recognize it as a stressor that influences both strain and performance variables. This is critical as intrusions become a more prominent fixture in the American workplace. This study also contributes to our understanding of the use of micro-macro approaches to statistical analyses, and provides additional insight into how occupational health psychologists can test long-held assumptions; namely day-to-day stressors contribute to long-term strain. Title: "Do Not Disturb": A Micro-Macro Examination of Intrusions at Work Author: Lin, Bing Chun Year: 2013 Intrusions, or interruptions by others, are a common phenomenon in the modern workplace (Grove, 1983; Jett & George, 2003), particularly in the computing and information-technology (CIT) industry, as cross-specialty, and cross-team collaborations become more common (Beck et al., 2001). The present study examines the relationship between day-to-day intrusions (measured Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) and strain reactions and perceived job performance over the week (measured on Thursday) among 150 CIT employees. Using a number of resource-based theories (i.e., Conservation of Resources, Ego Depletion Model, Cognitive Fatigue Model), I hypothesize that participants experiencing more frequent intrusions on a day-to-day basis will experience greater levels of overall strain reactions (i.e., fatigue, self-regulation failure, and cognitive failure), and lower levels of overall perceived job performance for the week. To test these hypotheses, I applied a micro-macro multi-wave design, such that intrusions were measured at the end of three consecutive workdays (Level-1 Predictors) and strain reactions and performance measured on the fourth day (Level-2 Outcomes). Using Structural Equation Modeling and the technique put forth by Croon and van Veldhoven (2007), I specified four models to test my hypotheses, wherein level-1 variables (i.e., day-to-day intrusions) predicted level-2 outcomes (i.e., week-level fatigue, self-regulation failure, cognitive failure, and perceived performance). I found that day-to-day intrusions were significantly positively associated with fatigue, self-regulation failure, and perceived performance. However, day-to-day intrusions were not significantly associated with cognitive failure. These results suggest that intrusions may consume time and self-regulatory resources but may not consume cognitive resources, and that although intrusions cause impairment from a physical and self-regulatory perspective, they may not inhibit cognitive functioning. Future research should further investigate the relationship between intrusions and cognitive functioning. The present study is one of the first to explicitly study intrusions and recognize it as a stressor that influences both strain and performance variables. This is critical as intrusions become a more prominent fixture in the American workplace. This study also contributes to our understanding of the use of micro-macro approaches to statistical analyses, and provides additional insight into how occupational health psychologists can test long-held assumptions; namely day-to-day stressors contribute to long-term strain. Close

• 104. [Article] Identification of Novel Small RNAs and Characterization of the 6S RNA of Coxiella burnetii

  Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that causes Q fever, undergoes a biphasic developmental cycle that alternates between a metabolically-active large cell variant (LCV) and ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Identification of Novel Small RNAs and Characterization of the 6S RNA of Coxiella burnetii Author: Warrier, Indu, Hicks, Linda D., Battisti, James M., Raghavan, Rahul, Minnick, Michael F. Year: 2014 Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that causes Q fever, undergoes a biphasic developmental cycle that alternates between a metabolically-active large cell variant (LCV) and a dormant small cell variant (SCV). As such, the bacterium undoubtedly employs complex modes of regulating its lifecycle, metabolism and pathogenesis. Small RNAs (sRNAs) have been shown to play important regulatory roles in controlling metabolism and virulence in several pathogenic bacteria. We hypothesize that sRNAs are involved in regulating growth and development of C. burnetii and its infection of host cells. To address the hypothesis and identify potential sRNAs, we subjected total RNA isolated from Coxiella cultured axenically and in Vero host cells to deep-sequencing. Using this approach, we identified fifteen novel C. burnetii sRNAs (CbSRs). Fourteen CbSRs were validated by Northern blotting. Most CbSRs showed differential expression, with increased levels in LCVs. Eight CbSRs were upregulated ($2-fold) during intracellular growth as compared to growth in axenic medium. Along with the fifteen sRNAs, we also identified three sRNAs that have been previously described from other bacteria, including RNase P RNA, tmRNA and 6S RNA. The 6S regulatory sRNA of C. burnetii was found to accumulate over log phase-growth with a maximum level attained in the SCV stage. The 6S RNA-encoding gene (ssrS) was mapped to the 59 UTR of ygfA; a highly conserved linkage in eubacteria. The predicted secondary structure of the 6S RNA possesses three highly conserved domains found in 6S RNAs of other eubacteria. We also demonstrate that Coxiella’s 6S RNA interacts with RNA polymerase (RNAP) in a specific manner. Finally, transcript levels of 6S RNA were found to be at much higher levels when Coxiella was grown in host cells relative to axenic culture, indicating a potential role in regulating the bacterium’s intracellular stress response by interacting with RNAP during transcription. Title: Identification of Novel Small RNAs and Characterization of the 6S RNA of Coxiella burnetii Author: Warrier, Indu, Hicks, Linda D., Battisti, James M., Raghavan, Rahul, Minnick, Michael F. Year: 2014 Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that causes Q fever, undergoes a biphasic developmental cycle that alternates between a metabolically-active large cell variant (LCV) and a dormant small cell variant (SCV). As such, the bacterium undoubtedly employs complex modes of regulating its lifecycle, metabolism and pathogenesis. Small RNAs (sRNAs) have been shown to play important regulatory roles in controlling metabolism and virulence in several pathogenic bacteria. We hypothesize that sRNAs are involved in regulating growth and development of C. burnetii and its infection of host cells. To address the hypothesis and identify potential sRNAs, we subjected total RNA isolated from Coxiella cultured axenically and in Vero host cells to deep-sequencing. Using this approach, we identified fifteen novel C. burnetii sRNAs (CbSRs). Fourteen CbSRs were validated by Northern blotting. Most CbSRs showed differential expression, with increased levels in LCVs. Eight CbSRs were upregulated ($2-fold) during intracellular growth as compared to growth in axenic medium. Along with the fifteen sRNAs, we also identified three sRNAs that have been previously described from other bacteria, including RNase P RNA, tmRNA and 6S RNA. The 6S regulatory sRNA of C. burnetii was found to accumulate over log phase-growth with a maximum level attained in the SCV stage. The 6S RNA-encoding gene (ssrS) was mapped to the 59 UTR of ygfA; a highly conserved linkage in eubacteria. The predicted secondary structure of the 6S RNA possesses three highly conserved domains found in 6S RNAs of other eubacteria. We also demonstrate that Coxiella’s 6S RNA interacts with RNA polymerase (RNAP) in a specific manner. Finally, transcript levels of 6S RNA were found to be at much higher levels when Coxiella was grown in host cells relative to axenic culture, indicating a potential role in regulating the bacterium’s intracellular stress response by interacting with RNAP during transcription. Close

• 105. [Article] A Study of Successful Management Teams in Oregon Public School Systems

  The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the current status of successful management teams in Oregon public schools as they exist in 1988, after more than fifteen years of evolution as the ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: A Study of Successful Management Teams in Oregon Public School Systems Author: Carnes, James R. Year: 1988 The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the current status of successful management teams in Oregon public schools as they exist in 1988, after more than fifteen years of evolution as the preferred management practice. Study Questions asked were: (1) Why was the team management concept implemented? (2) How has the management team evolved? (3) How is the management team organized? (4) How does the management team operate? (5) How are management team members involved in developing, recommending, implementing, and monitoring school district policies and administrative regulations? (6) What are the most important characteristics or elements found as part of successful management teams which are essential to the school district's management team being "successful"? A descriptive, multiple-case study design was used to study the activities of successful management teams within the unique context of their actual school system operations. Three "successful" management teams were selected for case studies by a panel of educational experts, using the following criterion. Which Oregon public school systems represent both: (a) "a successful management team" as endorsed and promoted by the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators and the Oregon School Boards Association, and (b) "a state of the art" model of team management as it is evolving? Separate case studies were conducted and written for each of the three selected management teams. Multiple sources of evidence were collected, using (1) documentation, (2) archival records, (3) interviews and surveys, and (4) direct observations. A cross-case analysis was conducted, resulting in a written description of the similarities among successful management teams in three Oregon public school systems. The conclusions of the study supported the five study propositions: (1) successful management teams implemented the team management concept because it was the preferred method of educational leadership which allowed greater participation by administrators, and resulted in improved decision making; (2) successful management teams have evolved since their original implementation, until they presently represent the unique management needs and resources of the school system; (3) successful management teams are made up of a group of school district administrators consisting of the superintendent and (or representatives of) central staff, principals, and ancillary personnel having supervisory positions; and are structured to allow the maximum, efficient input and participation by that group; (4) successful management teams involve administrators in developing, recommending, implementing, and monitoring school district policies and admlnistrative regulations; and (5) successful management teams have in common certain characteristics or elements which are essential to the management teams being "successful." The following synthesis of the conclusions was developed from a multitude of identified characteristics or elements of successful management teams. Successful management teams: (1) establish and support common goals and direction for the school system; (2) involve all team members in shared decision-making; (3) foster teamwork and team spirit; (4) involve all team members in the policy and administrative regulation activities of the school system; and (5) are designed, organized, and operated in response to the unique requirements of the organization. Recommendations were made to practitioners for the application of the conclusions and identified characteristics or elements of successful management teams. A Management Team Profile instrument was also developed for use in assessing the successfulness of management teams. Suggestions for additional study were made based upon the findings and experience in conducting this study. Replication of this study in large school districts and districts with unsuccessful management teams could provide further insights into what makes management teams "successful." Title: A Study of Successful Management Teams in Oregon Public School Systems Author: Carnes, James R. Year: 1988 The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the current status of successful management teams in Oregon public schools as they exist in 1988, after more than fifteen years of evolution as the preferred management practice. Study Questions asked were: (1) Why was the team management concept implemented? (2) How has the management team evolved? (3) How is the management team organized? (4) How does the management team operate? (5) How are management team members involved in developing, recommending, implementing, and monitoring school district policies and administrative regulations? (6) What are the most important characteristics or elements found as part of successful management teams which are essential to the school district's management team being "successful"? A descriptive, multiple-case study design was used to study the activities of successful management teams within the unique context of their actual school system operations. Three "successful" management teams were selected for case studies by a panel of educational experts, using the following criterion. Which Oregon public school systems represent both: (a) "a successful management team" as endorsed and promoted by the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators and the Oregon School Boards Association, and (b) "a state of the art" model of team management as it is evolving? Separate case studies were conducted and written for each of the three selected management teams. Multiple sources of evidence were collected, using (1) documentation, (2) archival records, (3) interviews and surveys, and (4) direct observations. A cross-case analysis was conducted, resulting in a written description of the similarities among successful management teams in three Oregon public school systems. The conclusions of the study supported the five study propositions: (1) successful management teams implemented the team management concept because it was the preferred method of educational leadership which allowed greater participation by administrators, and resulted in improved decision making; (2) successful management teams have evolved since their original implementation, until they presently represent the unique management needs and resources of the school system; (3) successful management teams are made up of a group of school district administrators consisting of the superintendent and (or representatives of) central staff, principals, and ancillary personnel having supervisory positions; and are structured to allow the maximum, efficient input and participation by that group; (4) successful management teams involve administrators in developing, recommending, implementing, and monitoring school district policies and admlnistrative regulations; and (5) successful management teams have in common certain characteristics or elements which are essential to the management teams being "successful." The following synthesis of the conclusions was developed from a multitude of identified characteristics or elements of successful management teams. Successful management teams: (1) establish and support common goals and direction for the school system; (2) involve all team members in shared decision-making; (3) foster teamwork and team spirit; (4) involve all team members in the policy and administrative regulation activities of the school system; and (5) are designed, organized, and operated in response to the unique requirements of the organization. Recommendations were made to practitioners for the application of the conclusions and identified characteristics or elements of successful management teams. A Management Team Profile instrument was also developed for use in assessing the successfulness of management teams. Suggestions for additional study were made based upon the findings and experience in conducting this study. Replication of this study in large school districts and districts with unsuccessful management teams could provide further insights into what makes management teams "successful." Close

• 106. [Article] Teacher Stress and Coping: Does the Process Differ According to Years of Teaching Experience?

  Teaching is stressful. The demands placed on teachers can result in emotional exhaustion and burnout, causing many to leave the profession. Teachers early in their careers seem to be at special risk, with ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Teacher Stress and Coping: Does the Process Differ According to Years of Teaching Experience? Author: Beers, Jeffry Childs Year: 2012 Teaching is stressful. The demands placed on teachers can result in emotional exhaustion and burnout, causing many to leave the profession. Teachers early in their careers seem to be at special risk, with desistence rates estimated as high as 40% in the first five years. This study was based on the notion that constructive coping can be a resource for teachers, and that teachers later in their professional lives may provide a model for adaptive ways of dealing with professional demands. The goal of the study was to examine whether the coping process utilized by teachers (including reported demands, appraisals, ways of coping, resolutions, and post-coping assessment) differed at different stages of their career. Participants (n = 57) were teachers (90% female) ranging in age from 28-63, teaching in grades 4 to 12. The current study utilized a portion of the baseline open-ended interview of a randomized waitlist control study conducted to explore the effects of a mindfulness-based program. After coding the interview data for each step of the coping process, frequency analyses revealed that: (1) as in previous studies, the most frequently reported demands were problems with students (40%), followed by workload (18%) and parents (15%); (2) the most frequently reported appraisal was extreme negative emotion (44%); (3) the most frequently reported ways of coping were adaptive, including problem-solving (65%), support seeking (35%), and self regulation (22%); (4) the most frequently reported resolution of the stressful episode was successful (51%); and (5) with regards to post coping assessment, teachers most frequently reported that they would do something differently in future episodes if they could (54%). A series of Chi-square analyses to explore whether there is an association between how the teachers responded to questions corresponding to each step revealed that (1) teachers who reported parents as a demand in teaching were more likely to report extreme negative emotion and the use of self-regulation, which was associated with a successful resolution; (2) teachers who reported the administration as a demand were also more likely to use support seeking as a way of coping; and (3) teachers who reported using more maladaptive ways of coping were also more likely to report an unsuccessful resolution. Finally, pairwise comparisons to determine which groups of teachers differed from each other showed that, in keeping with expectations, early career teachers reported "no negative emotion" less and "extreme negative emotion" more than other groups, while late career teachers mentioned "no negative emotion" more. In terms of demands, early career teachers mentioned the environment less whereas late career teachers mentioned parents less and students more often. In terms of coping, late career teachers reported using self-regulation less and cognitive accommodation more than the other groups. Finally, early career teachers were more likely to say that they would try different effective strategies in future coping episodes while late career teachers were less likely to report that they would do so. Applications of these findings are discussed for process-oriented theories of teacher stress and coping, for future studies examining how coping develops over the course of a professional career, and for preservice training and school-based interventions designed to promote adaptive coping for teachers at every phase of their profession. Title: Teacher Stress and Coping: Does the Process Differ According to Years of Teaching Experience? Author: Beers, Jeffry Childs Year: 2012 Teaching is stressful. The demands placed on teachers can result in emotional exhaustion and burnout, causing many to leave the profession. Teachers early in their careers seem to be at special risk, with desistence rates estimated as high as 40% in the first five years. This study was based on the notion that constructive coping can be a resource for teachers, and that teachers later in their professional lives may provide a model for adaptive ways of dealing with professional demands. The goal of the study was to examine whether the coping process utilized by teachers (including reported demands, appraisals, ways of coping, resolutions, and post-coping assessment) differed at different stages of their career. Participants (n = 57) were teachers (90% female) ranging in age from 28-63, teaching in grades 4 to 12. The current study utilized a portion of the baseline open-ended interview of a randomized waitlist control study conducted to explore the effects of a mindfulness-based program. After coding the interview data for each step of the coping process, frequency analyses revealed that: (1) as in previous studies, the most frequently reported demands were problems with students (40%), followed by workload (18%) and parents (15%); (2) the most frequently reported appraisal was extreme negative emotion (44%); (3) the most frequently reported ways of coping were adaptive, including problem-solving (65%), support seeking (35%), and self regulation (22%); (4) the most frequently reported resolution of the stressful episode was successful (51%); and (5) with regards to post coping assessment, teachers most frequently reported that they would do something differently in future episodes if they could (54%). A series of Chi-square analyses to explore whether there is an association between how the teachers responded to questions corresponding to each step revealed that (1) teachers who reported parents as a demand in teaching were more likely to report extreme negative emotion and the use of self-regulation, which was associated with a successful resolution; (2) teachers who reported the administration as a demand were also more likely to use support seeking as a way of coping; and (3) teachers who reported using more maladaptive ways of coping were also more likely to report an unsuccessful resolution. Finally, pairwise comparisons to determine which groups of teachers differed from each other showed that, in keeping with expectations, early career teachers reported "no negative emotion" less and "extreme negative emotion" more than other groups, while late career teachers mentioned "no negative emotion" more. In terms of demands, early career teachers mentioned the environment less whereas late career teachers mentioned parents less and students more often. In terms of coping, late career teachers reported using self-regulation less and cognitive accommodation more than the other groups. Finally, early career teachers were more likely to say that they would try different effective strategies in future coping episodes while late career teachers were less likely to report that they would do so. Applications of these findings are discussed for process-oriented theories of teacher stress and coping, for future studies examining how coping develops over the course of a professional career, and for preservice training and school-based interventions designed to promote adaptive coping for teachers at every phase of their profession. Close

• 107. [Article] BEE CAUSE: Is Legislative Action Protecting Bees from Neonicotinoids Justified?

  The potential harm caused to bees and other pollinators by the widespread use of neonicotinoids has the capacity to pose a real and immediate threat to both the environment and humans. The benefits that ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: BEE CAUSE: Is Legislative Action Protecting Bees from Neonicotinoids Justified? Author: Squire, Ursula A. Year: 2016 The potential harm caused to bees and other pollinators by the widespread use of neonicotinoids has the capacity to pose a real and immediate threat to both the environment and humans. The benefits that bees and other pollinators provide, combined with the potential of harm they may face, are important enough to warrant a more comprehensive testing apparatus by which to evaluate threats to their population. Environmentally, bees and other pollinators are an important piece of ecosystemic balance--from pest management to pollination of plants that are a part of many species' diet. Anthropologically speaking, the way of life humans have been accustomed to and even need in order to survive is also largely dependent on a healthy population of bees and other pollinators; up to 70% of plants and vegetables we eat are directly a result of pollinators, and one third of every mouthful humans consume is attributed to pollinators. Without a healthy population of pollinators, the agricultural variety and nutritional availability would drastically decrease. Moreover, these agricultural products pollinators are responsible for also affect billions of dollars on both a national and global level. In many ways, the economic stability of the United States is at an equal risk as the pollinators. For example, an inability to produce many of our own agricultural staples would leave local and regional livelihoods disrupted and change the United States' import/export position. Moreover, this is not just a national problem. Pollinators are responsible for over 150 billion dollars globally in agriculture. Many of the nutrients humans need to be healthy would be in short supply. While scientists continue to study the possible effects of neonicotinoids on pollinators, how should policy makers respond? In this thesis, I argue that the various and drastic ways in which pollinators impact our environment and every day life, combined with the potential of the harsh threats their collapse would entail, warrant a more stringent approach to the evaluation of potential harms like neonicotinoids. An ethical risk assessment, as I define one, would be an appropriate tool to apply to this situation to guide policy makers in drafting regulations even in the absence of scientific certainty. Ethical risk assessments are a tool by which to evaluate the moral and ethical responsibilities in a whole host of different scenarios, one of which is neonics and pollinators. In other words, this ethical risk assessment will be used as an instrument by which to determine whether or not there is a sufficient risk to the population of pollinators, thus determining whether regulation is appropriate. Through application of this risk assessment, I will show that in this particular case regulation is appropriate due to the risks neonics pose to pollinators in light of the evidence that we do have. I develop a set of criteria for an ethical risk assessment. The criteria are a result of a combination of existing literature and some novel connections I draw here. This list, I argue, is what constitutes an ethical risk assessment. Ethical risk assessment, grounded in Utility Theory, is appropriate here because of its calculative apparatus and sociopolitical applicability. Title: BEE CAUSE: Is Legislative Action Protecting Bees from Neonicotinoids Justified? Author: Squire, Ursula A. Year: 2016 The potential harm caused to bees and other pollinators by the widespread use of neonicotinoids has the capacity to pose a real and immediate threat to both the environment and humans. The benefits that bees and other pollinators provide, combined with the potential of harm they may face, are important enough to warrant a more comprehensive testing apparatus by which to evaluate threats to their population. Environmentally, bees and other pollinators are an important piece of ecosystemic balance--from pest management to pollination of plants that are a part of many species' diet. Anthropologically speaking, the way of life humans have been accustomed to and even need in order to survive is also largely dependent on a healthy population of bees and other pollinators; up to 70% of plants and vegetables we eat are directly a result of pollinators, and one third of every mouthful humans consume is attributed to pollinators. Without a healthy population of pollinators, the agricultural variety and nutritional availability would drastically decrease. Moreover, these agricultural products pollinators are responsible for also affect billions of dollars on both a national and global level. In many ways, the economic stability of the United States is at an equal risk as the pollinators. For example, an inability to produce many of our own agricultural staples would leave local and regional livelihoods disrupted and change the United States' import/export position. Moreover, this is not just a national problem. Pollinators are responsible for over 150 billion dollars globally in agriculture. Many of the nutrients humans need to be healthy would be in short supply. While scientists continue to study the possible effects of neonicotinoids on pollinators, how should policy makers respond? In this thesis, I argue that the various and drastic ways in which pollinators impact our environment and every day life, combined with the potential of the harsh threats their collapse would entail, warrant a more stringent approach to the evaluation of potential harms like neonicotinoids. An ethical risk assessment, as I define one, would be an appropriate tool to apply to this situation to guide policy makers in drafting regulations even in the absence of scientific certainty. Ethical risk assessments are a tool by which to evaluate the moral and ethical responsibilities in a whole host of different scenarios, one of which is neonics and pollinators. In other words, this ethical risk assessment will be used as an instrument by which to determine whether or not there is a sufficient risk to the population of pollinators, thus determining whether regulation is appropriate. Through application of this risk assessment, I will show that in this particular case regulation is appropriate due to the risks neonics pose to pollinators in light of the evidence that we do have. I develop a set of criteria for an ethical risk assessment. The criteria are a result of a combination of existing literature and some novel connections I draw here. This list, I argue, is what constitutes an ethical risk assessment. Ethical risk assessment, grounded in Utility Theory, is appropriate here because of its calculative apparatus and sociopolitical applicability. Close

• 108. [Article] Influence of Mixing and Buoyancy on Competition Between Cyanobacteria Species in Upper Klamath Lake

  Cyanobacterial blooms in lakes impact human health, the economy, and ecosystem health. It is predicted that climate change will promote and increase the frequency and intensity of cyanobacterial blooms ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Influence of Mixing and Buoyancy on Competition Between Cyanobacteria Species in Upper Klamath Lake Author: Brunkalla, Roberta Year: 2017 Cyanobacterial blooms in lakes impact human health, the economy, and ecosystem health. It is predicted that climate change will promote and increase the frequency and intensity of cyanobacterial blooms due to unique physiological adaptions that allow cyanobacteria to exploit warm stable water bodies. Key cyanobacteria physiological adaptions include nitrogen fixation, buoyancy regulation and higher optimum growth temperatures. The largest uncertainty of predicting the effect of climate change is in understanding how the interactions among species will change. Adding to the ambiguity, cyanobacteria physiological adaptions can vary based on lakespecific ecotypes and can have different sensitivities to temperature. It is critical to understand how cyanobacterial physiological adaptions impact species interactions in order to improve and devise adaptable, short‐term management methods for bloom control. This study investigated how weather patterns and algal buoyancy regulation influence the competition and accumulation of two bloom‐forming buoyant cyanobacteria species (Aphanizomenon flos‐aquae (APFA) and toxin‐forming Microcystis aeruginosa (MSAE)) in Upper Klamath Lake (UKL), Oregon. The focus was confirming the buoyancy rate of the APFA in Upper Klamath Lake and exploring whether short‐term weather conditions could lead to dangerous accumulations of APFA or MSAE. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on the model’s buoyancy terms and growth curves to see if the outcome of competition was influenced by these parameters. UKL specific buoyancy rates were measured on APFA from samples taken directly from the lake in the summer of 2015. Tracking software was used to measure APFA movement through water, and individual colony movement was averaged to obtain a single buoyancy rate. There was a high degree of agreement between the calculated APFA buoyancy rate in UKL (o.89 ± 0.34 m hr-1) with the rate published by Walsby (1995; 0.9 ± 0-.5 m hr-1). This study investigated how weather patterns and buoyancy regulation influenced the outcome of competition between APFA and MSAE. Weather and water column temperature data were collected from UKL in the summer of 2016. A onedimensional hydrodynamic model was used to calculate the lake’s thermal and turbulence structure on days with contrasting weather patterns (hot/cool and windy/calm). A competition model was used to calculate the accumulation of APFA and MSAE cells in regular intervals through the water column under the various weather scenarios. MSAE accumulation was significantly influenced by the thermal and turbulence regimes, but APFA maintained high accumulations under every regime and was the better competitor under every thermal and turbulence regime. MSAE was more negatively impacted by high turbulence than low temperatures. APFA’s optimum temperature growth curve was found to be important in determining the outcome of competition between APFA and MSAE. Surprisingly, competition was not sensitive to changes in buoyancy rates. Buoyancy was not found to be a function of algal accumulation under any thermal and turbulence regime. The impacts of climate change and human‐induced enrichment has the potential to change existing patterns of species interactions in lentic systems. Restoration and management efforts should consider the significance of cascading ecological responses to climate change. Understanding how key physiological adaptions operate is the first step to assessing the scope of this impact. While buoyancy might not play a large role in competition in UKL, it might be possible to use mixing to suppress MSAE because it is negatively impacted by high turbulence. If MSAE hot spots become a reoccurring problem in UKL, lakes managers might be able to use localized mixing to suppress MSAE blooms in these problem areas. Title: Influence of Mixing and Buoyancy on Competition Between Cyanobacteria Species in Upper Klamath Lake Author: Brunkalla, Roberta Year: 2017 Cyanobacterial blooms in lakes impact human health, the economy, and ecosystem health. It is predicted that climate change will promote and increase the frequency and intensity of cyanobacterial blooms due to unique physiological adaptions that allow cyanobacteria to exploit warm stable water bodies. Key cyanobacteria physiological adaptions include nitrogen fixation, buoyancy regulation and higher optimum growth temperatures. The largest uncertainty of predicting the effect of climate change is in understanding how the interactions among species will change. Adding to the ambiguity, cyanobacteria physiological adaptions can vary based on lakespecific ecotypes and can have different sensitivities to temperature. It is critical to understand how cyanobacterial physiological adaptions impact species interactions in order to improve and devise adaptable, short‐term management methods for bloom control. This study investigated how weather patterns and algal buoyancy regulation influence the competition and accumulation of two bloom‐forming buoyant cyanobacteria species (Aphanizomenon flos‐aquae (APFA) and toxin‐forming Microcystis aeruginosa (MSAE)) in Upper Klamath Lake (UKL), Oregon. The focus was confirming the buoyancy rate of the APFA in Upper Klamath Lake and exploring whether short‐term weather conditions could lead to dangerous accumulations of APFA or MSAE. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on the model’s buoyancy terms and growth curves to see if the outcome of competition was influenced by these parameters. UKL specific buoyancy rates were measured on APFA from samples taken directly from the lake in the summer of 2015. Tracking software was used to measure APFA movement through water, and individual colony movement was averaged to obtain a single buoyancy rate. There was a high degree of agreement between the calculated APFA buoyancy rate in UKL (o.89 ± 0.34 m hr-1) with the rate published by Walsby (1995; 0.9 ± 0-.5 m hr-1). This study investigated how weather patterns and buoyancy regulation influenced the outcome of competition between APFA and MSAE. Weather and water column temperature data were collected from UKL in the summer of 2016. A onedimensional hydrodynamic model was used to calculate the lake’s thermal and turbulence structure on days with contrasting weather patterns (hot/cool and windy/calm). A competition model was used to calculate the accumulation of APFA and MSAE cells in regular intervals through the water column under the various weather scenarios. MSAE accumulation was significantly influenced by the thermal and turbulence regimes, but APFA maintained high accumulations under every regime and was the better competitor under every thermal and turbulence regime. MSAE was more negatively impacted by high turbulence than low temperatures. APFA’s optimum temperature growth curve was found to be important in determining the outcome of competition between APFA and MSAE. Surprisingly, competition was not sensitive to changes in buoyancy rates. Buoyancy was not found to be a function of algal accumulation under any thermal and turbulence regime. The impacts of climate change and human‐induced enrichment has the potential to change existing patterns of species interactions in lentic systems. Restoration and management efforts should consider the significance of cascading ecological responses to climate change. Understanding how key physiological adaptions operate is the first step to assessing the scope of this impact. While buoyancy might not play a large role in competition in UKL, it might be possible to use mixing to suppress MSAE because it is negatively impacted by high turbulence. If MSAE hot spots become a reoccurring problem in UKL, lakes managers might be able to use localized mixing to suppress MSAE blooms in these problem areas. Close

• 109. [Article] Why Do Animals Do What They Do, When They Do It? Characterizing the Role of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Seasonal Life-History Transitions

  Resource availability follows seasonal cycles in environmental conditions. To align physiology and behavior with prevailing environmental conditions, seasonal animals integrate cues from the environment ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Why Do Animals Do What They Do, When They Do It? Characterizing the Role of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Seasonal Life-History Transitions Author: Dayger Forbes, Catherine Anne Year: 2017 Resource availability follows seasonal cycles in environmental conditions. To align physiology and behavior with prevailing environmental conditions, seasonal animals integrate cues from the environment with their internal state. One of the systems animals use to integrate those cues is the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its primary effector, glucocorticoid hormones. The HPA axis has wide-ranging effects on physiology and behavior and, in the context of a glucocorticoid stress response, is known to mediate tradeoffs between immediate survival and future fitness. The HPA axis also plays an important role in facilitating predictable life-history events. Variation in HPA axis activity has been reported in all vertebrates, often coordinating seasonal reproduction and possibly also transitions between life-history stages. My dissertation research used red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) to examine the role of the HPA axis in regulating seasonal life-history transitions, especially in females In Chapter 2, I hypothesized that seasonal plasticity in stress responses is regulated, in part, by changes in the responsiveness of the adrenal glands to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). I found that glucocorticoid responses to ACTH challenge were smaller in males than in females during the spring, suggesting that reports of reduced stress responsiveness in males may reflect lower adrenal responsiveness to ACTH. The sex difference in mating season duration and consequently also in the timing of migration led me to hypothesize that sex differences in HPA axis activity could explain sex differences in the timing of migration. Furthermore, adrenal responsiveness to ACTH also varied seasonally in males, but not females, suggesting that female stress responses, which have not been studied, may not vary seasonally. In Chapter 3, I investigated potential seasonal variation in female stress responses, which have not previously been examined. In males, baseline glucocorticoids decrease over the course of the mating season resulting in significantly lower baseline levels in males that have begun to migrate. I hypothesized that a change in HPA axis activity occurs during spring and fall migration. Peak stress-induced glucocorticoid concentration occurred at an earlier sampling time in females during the spring compared to the fall. Peak stress-induced glucocorticoid concentrations also occurred at a later sampling time in migrating females than in pre-migratory females during the spring, suggesting that negative feedback regulation of the HPA axis changes as soon as females begin to migrate during the spring. Female red-sided garter snakes are biennial breeders that give birth approximately every other year implying that a female's recent reproductive history can influence whether or not she will reproduce in a given year. Body condition can be used as a proxy for recent reproductive history and can be related to baseline and stress-induced glucocorticoid concentrations. In Chapter 4, I hypothesized that hormonal and behavioral stress responses vary with body condition. Baseline glucocorticoids did not vary with body condition, but females in low body condition showed a significantly larger increase in plasma glucocorticoids in response to capture stress. Body condition, but not capture stress, influenced latency to copulate, suggesting that females are resistant to the behavioral effects of capture stress during the spring mating season. Only females in low body condition increased latency to copulate in response to injection of a physiological (15 µg) dose of exogenous CORT, while all females responded to a pharmacological (60 µg) dose, indicating that behavioral responses to exogenous glucocorticoids vary with female body condition. These data suggest that variation in body condition may be associated with differences in HPA axis sensitivity and/or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) density in the brain. I directly tested if there is a relationship among body condition, reproductive history and HPA axis activity in Chapter 5. I found that glucocorticoid stress responses and mating behavior did not vary with body condition, nor was body condition related to brain GR or reproductive condition (parturient vs post-parturient females). Only unreceptive females showed a significant stress-induced increase in glucocorticoids, suggesting that reduced stress responsiveness is associated with receptivity. Parturient females mated faster (were more proceptive) than post-parturient females. These data suggest that HPA axis activity influences reproductive "decisions" by modulating receptivity, while proceptivity is related primarily to recent reproductive history. Together, these chapters help characterize how HPA axis activity varies with season, sex, reproductive history and migration status. By systematically probing the HPA axis in a single, tractable system, I have gained insight into how changes in the HPA axis support and modulate transitions between life-history stages. These results highlight the HPA axis' important function in mediating the critical trade-offs all animals must navigate to be successful in a changing world. Title: Why Do Animals Do What They Do, When They Do It? Characterizing the Role of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Seasonal Life-History Transitions Author: Dayger Forbes, Catherine Anne Year: 2017 Resource availability follows seasonal cycles in environmental conditions. To align physiology and behavior with prevailing environmental conditions, seasonal animals integrate cues from the environment with their internal state. One of the systems animals use to integrate those cues is the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its primary effector, glucocorticoid hormones. The HPA axis has wide-ranging effects on physiology and behavior and, in the context of a glucocorticoid stress response, is known to mediate tradeoffs between immediate survival and future fitness. The HPA axis also plays an important role in facilitating predictable life-history events. Variation in HPA axis activity has been reported in all vertebrates, often coordinating seasonal reproduction and possibly also transitions between life-history stages. My dissertation research used red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) to examine the role of the HPA axis in regulating seasonal life-history transitions, especially in females In Chapter 2, I hypothesized that seasonal plasticity in stress responses is regulated, in part, by changes in the responsiveness of the adrenal glands to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). I found that glucocorticoid responses to ACTH challenge were smaller in males than in females during the spring, suggesting that reports of reduced stress responsiveness in males may reflect lower adrenal responsiveness to ACTH. The sex difference in mating season duration and consequently also in the timing of migration led me to hypothesize that sex differences in HPA axis activity could explain sex differences in the timing of migration. Furthermore, adrenal responsiveness to ACTH also varied seasonally in males, but not females, suggesting that female stress responses, which have not been studied, may not vary seasonally. In Chapter 3, I investigated potential seasonal variation in female stress responses, which have not previously been examined. In males, baseline glucocorticoids decrease over the course of the mating season resulting in significantly lower baseline levels in males that have begun to migrate. I hypothesized that a change in HPA axis activity occurs during spring and fall migration. Peak stress-induced glucocorticoid concentration occurred at an earlier sampling time in females during the spring compared to the fall. Peak stress-induced glucocorticoid concentrations also occurred at a later sampling time in migrating females than in pre-migratory females during the spring, suggesting that negative feedback regulation of the HPA axis changes as soon as females begin to migrate during the spring. Female red-sided garter snakes are biennial breeders that give birth approximately every other year implying that a female's recent reproductive history can influence whether or not she will reproduce in a given year. Body condition can be used as a proxy for recent reproductive history and can be related to baseline and stress-induced glucocorticoid concentrations. In Chapter 4, I hypothesized that hormonal and behavioral stress responses vary with body condition. Baseline glucocorticoids did not vary with body condition, but females in low body condition showed a significantly larger increase in plasma glucocorticoids in response to capture stress. Body condition, but not capture stress, influenced latency to copulate, suggesting that females are resistant to the behavioral effects of capture stress during the spring mating season. Only females in low body condition increased latency to copulate in response to injection of a physiological (15 µg) dose of exogenous CORT, while all females responded to a pharmacological (60 µg) dose, indicating that behavioral responses to exogenous glucocorticoids vary with female body condition. These data suggest that variation in body condition may be associated with differences in HPA axis sensitivity and/or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) density in the brain. I directly tested if there is a relationship among body condition, reproductive history and HPA axis activity in Chapter 5. I found that glucocorticoid stress responses and mating behavior did not vary with body condition, nor was body condition related to brain GR or reproductive condition (parturient vs post-parturient females). Only unreceptive females showed a significant stress-induced increase in glucocorticoids, suggesting that reduced stress responsiveness is associated with receptivity. Parturient females mated faster (were more proceptive) than post-parturient females. These data suggest that HPA axis activity influences reproductive "decisions" by modulating receptivity, while proceptivity is related primarily to recent reproductive history. Together, these chapters help characterize how HPA axis activity varies with season, sex, reproductive history and migration status. By systematically probing the HPA axis in a single, tractable system, I have gained insight into how changes in the HPA axis support and modulate transitions between life-history stages. These results highlight the HPA axis' important function in mediating the critical trade-offs all animals must navigate to be successful in a changing world. Close

• 110. [Article] An instrument for determination of the polarization of fluorescence

  This thesis is concerned with the development of a compact, sensitive and reliable instrument for determination of the polarization of fluorescence of fluorescein tagged molecules in solution. The instrument ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: An instrument for determination of the polarization of fluorescence Author: Johnston, George Irwin Year: 1978 This thesis is concerned with the development of a compact, sensitive and reliable instrument for determination of the polarization of fluorescence of fluorescein tagged molecules in solution. The instrument as designed and constructed differs from others (2,3,4,5,6,8,9). The difference is that all of its optical system is aligned on a single axis. This was accomplished by the use of an ellipsoidal mirror positioned between the excitation source and the phototube fluorescence signal receiver. In addition, the excitation source, a 45 watt tungsten-iodide light was electronically regulated to control the intensity. Two types of determinations were made to verify the performance of the instrument. The first was the absolute sensitivity to varying fluorescein concentrations. Concentrations of fluorescein in 0.1 molar sodium phosphate buffer were prepared ranging from 10-6 molar to 10-11 molar. After the minimum detectable concentration was determined, five runs on samples of each concentration from the minimum detectable to 10-6 were made. The second check was for the sensitivity and linearity of the system in the measurement of polarization. Solutions of glycerol ranging from 62% to 90% were prepared with 10-6 molar fluorescein concentration. The data from the fluorescein sensitivity and polarization runs were averaged and the averages plotted on linear paper. In each case the instrument exhibited excellent linear response and reasonable standard deviation. Title: An instrument for determination of the polarization of fluorescence Author: Johnston, George Irwin Year: 1978 This thesis is concerned with the development of a compact, sensitive and reliable instrument for determination of the polarization of fluorescence of fluorescein tagged molecules in solution. The instrument as designed and constructed differs from others (2,3,4,5,6,8,9). The difference is that all of its optical system is aligned on a single axis. This was accomplished by the use of an ellipsoidal mirror positioned between the excitation source and the phototube fluorescence signal receiver. In addition, the excitation source, a 45 watt tungsten-iodide light was electronically regulated to control the intensity. Two types of determinations were made to verify the performance of the instrument. The first was the absolute sensitivity to varying fluorescein concentrations. Concentrations of fluorescein in 0.1 molar sodium phosphate buffer were prepared ranging from 10-6 molar to 10-11 molar. After the minimum detectable concentration was determined, five runs on samples of each concentration from the minimum detectable to 10-6 were made. The second check was for the sensitivity and linearity of the system in the measurement of polarization. Solutions of glycerol ranging from 62% to 90% were prepared with 10-6 molar fluorescein concentration. The data from the fluorescein sensitivity and polarization runs were averaged and the averages plotted on linear paper. In each case the instrument exhibited excellent linear response and reasonable standard deviation. Close