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Papatɨmnanáx̱a Tíinma ku Tiichám / The People and the Land Tell Each Other’s History: Strengthening Tribal Sovereignty on the Western Columbia Plateau, 1854-1940
Full text linkThis dissertation uses primary source documents, linguistic analysis, and secondary sources to closely examine tribal leadership in the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Indian Reservation from 1854 to 1940. I aim to examine sovereignty in the terms and with the goals that tribal leaders in 1854-1855 used, and carry that definition forward through leadership and activism on both reservations. Plateau tribal leaders, I argue, defined sovereignty as a web of reciprocal relationships between people and land, in which people had rights – but so did land, and so did the other-than-human relatives who also resided on the Plateau.Although the context on and around the Plateau changed politically from 1855 to 1940, Plateau tribes adapted their strategies to that context without changing their core goals. The first decades of American settler-colonialism on the Columbia Plateau, from the 1840s to the 1880s, were catastrophically violent. Leaders of the Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Yakama bands adopted multiple strategies, sometimes at odds with one another, to survive. Between the 1870s and 1910s, however, it is clear that band leaders worked together to protect each other, their land, and their people from American violence. Over the early 20th century, more grassroots activism becomes clear, particularly in labor, religion, and education. The determination of Plateau leaders and people to maintain their sovereign relationships shaped their political context at least as much as Federal Indian policy did, by the middle of the 20th century
Investigating and Applying Tools to Better Understand Biologically Relevant COS and H2S
No full textHydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenously produced signaling molecule important to a variety of physiological functions. H2S plays a role in functions like vasodilation, angiogenesis,
neuromodulation, and antioxidant effects. Due to its importance in biology, quantification and
delivery of H2S have become key methods to both understand this small molecule gas and also
have impacts in longer-term therapeutic applications. The areas of detecting, quantifying, and
delivering H2S have been well investigated, however there are key limitations in each of these
areas that are topics of contemporary research. Carbonyl sulfide (COS) shares an intertwined
history with H2S because the ubiquitous enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA) rapidly converts COS
to H2S. In addition to the enzymatic conversion by CA, COS has been detected in mammalian
tissues and exhaled breath, further implicating its potential role in mammals. The specific
physiological role of COS is not well understood, and current efforts in the field include
detection and quantification of COS in various environments. Overall, improved tools are needed
to better understand the biological chemistry of COS and H2S, and to improve strategic methods
of donating COS/H2S for therapeutic applications.
In this dissertation two main areas of research are addressed: (1) Improving the mechanistic understanding of H2S probes and donors, and (2) increasing the fundamental
understanding of COS in biological systems. Chapter I is a perspective on advancing tools for
measurement and detection of H2S in chemical biology covering fluorescent probes, colorimetric
assays, HPLC quantification, H2S-specific electrodes, and more. Chapter II focuses on the
selectivity of thiophene-2-carboxylic acid ester probes and cautions their use in biological
systems. Chapter III demonstrates COS release as the main pathway for H2S release for 1,2,4
thiadiazolidin-3,5-dione H2S donors. Chapter IV includes the investigation of COS kinetics with
CA-II using more contemporary approaches. Additionally, this chapter includes preliminary
results for comparing COS conversion to H2S by CA-II and CA-IX. Chapter V highlights the
quantification of COS from Mo/W-Tp systems to assist in determining the pathway of COS
release. Furthermore, this chapter quantifies COS from a COS-based H2S donor for the first time
to our knowledge.
This dissertation includes previously published and un-published co-authored materials.2026-08-0
A First Principles Approach to Understanding Geophysical Granular Flows
Full text linkGranular flow phenomena are ubiquitous in nature. Granular flow processes can be evidenced in, for example, hillslope creep, rock avalanches, landslides, debris flows, and concentrated pyroclastic density currents. Nevertheless, granular flows remain some of the most enigmatic natural phenomena. Advancements in the fields of granular physics and suspension rheology suggests that granular flow phenomenology, ranging from solid-like, liquid-like, to gas-like flows may be unified by a dimensionless shear rate. Here, I utilize this framework and simulate granular flows using discrete element methods, with the goal of understanding the relationship between internal processes and measurable signals. Chapter 2 presents data showing that granular forces exerted onto a rough substrate scale with a globally defined dimensionless shear rate and particle concentration. These forces record a change in state as the flow transitions from a liquid-like flow, where particles are in prolonged friction-like contact, to a gas-like limit where particles transmit momentum through binary-particle collisions. Chapter 3 relaxes the assumption of monodisperse flows over substrates with invariable boundary roughness by considering flows with disparate grain-size distributions, as well as flows over disparate basal plates that represent varying degrees of roughness. This shows that basal roughness and assemblage grain-size distribution has a direct effect on internal energy partitioning. Moreover, relatively smooth substrates can lead to shear localization that results in a flow regime where effective basal friction is dramatically reduced. The third chapter ends with a one-dimensional surface-wave propagation calculation showing that recorded spectra may indeed record granular-flow regime changes. Finally, Chapter 4 presents data exploring how granular flow history and emplacement processes can affect the stability of static piles on time-varying slopes. The data presented in this chapter show that the particle velocity auto-correlation function may be used to predict when a granular assemblage will fail and arrest. The chapters herein suggest that the discrete element approach can be used to improve flow models and explore ways in which researchers can probe the internal dynamics of geophysical granular flows with indirect measurements, yielding a more refined understanding of natural hazards posed to life and infrastructure.
This dissertation contains both published and unpublished co-authored results
Cooperative Strategic Disclosure
Full text linkRecent research finds that firms use disclosure to weaken their competitors. However, I hypothesize that in settings with repeated interactions and strong cooperation incentives, firms will instead strategically use disclosure to strengthen their competitors. In support of this hypothesis, I find that unionized firms disclose bad news about their own financial outlooks to increase their unionized peers’ bargaining power during labor negotiations. Consistent with game theory predictions, I further find that this peer-strengthening disclosure appears to be based on reciprocity and concentrated in firms facing credible and severe threats of retaliation, as well as firms poised to benefit more from cooperation. These findings provide novel evidence that firms use disclosure to strengthen their competitors under certain circumstances, broadening our understanding of firms’ strategic disclosure incentives
Seeing Russia through Dmitry Markov’s Lens: The Optics of Svetlukha in an Artistic, Civil, and Educational Digital Space
Full text linkThis thesis investigates the work of Dmitry Markov, a contemporary Russian photographer who used his iPhone camera to document the ordinary lives of provincial and marginal Russia, blending visual art, social activism, and literary storytelling in his self-curated Instagram platform. The work highlights how Markov’s multimodal Instagram presence fostered an alternative photographic relationship and challenged the binary of light and darkness as well as the boundaries between documentary photography, personal narrative, and civic engagement. The analysis addresses ethical implications, investigates the features and affordances of digital technologies, and proposes that Markov’s work can offer valuable pedagogical material for teaching Russian language within a multiliterate and intercultural framework. Ultimately, the thesis positions Markov’s Instagram gallery as an artistic achievement, a deterritorialized social space, and a rich resource for fostering cross-cultural dialogue and educational innovation
The Effects of Macroalgal Diets on the Feeding Rates of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
No full text42 pagesPrimary producers from diverse macroalgal groups (Rhodophyta, Chlorophyta, and Phaeophyceae), are important food sources for invertebrate herbivores and detritivores. Recent changes in climate and predator dynamics have affected the amount of available macroalgae in the nearshore intertidal and shallow subtidal benthos of the NE Pacific. In parts of the Oregon coast, declines in nearshore macroalgae have accompanied precipitous purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) population increases. Because purple sea urchins consume macroalgae, clarity on their feeding rates and growth is needed to predict the effects of increased populations of sea urchins on the marine ecosystem. This thesis investigates the effects of urchin-algae trophic dynamics by comparing lab feeding rates, size changes, and ultimately gonad growth in two feeding trials in 2024 (one spring and one summer) for purple sea urchins fed seven different macroalgae that are common in Southern Oregon intertidal rocky beaches. The macroalgae investigated were Egregia menziesii, Corallina vancouveriensis, Nereocystis luetkeana, Ulva lactuca, Mazzaella splendens, Sargassum muticum, and Desmarestia ligulata; not all diets were provided in both the spring and the summer trials. In the spring 2024 trial, a linear mixed model (LMM) found significant differences in dry weight consumption between purple sea urchins fed the common intertidal kelp Egregia menziesii and those fed the red coralline alga Corallina vancouveriensis (p = 0.0001). A significant change in macroalgal consumption rates across days during the experiment (p = 0.0208) as observed. No significant differences in consumption relative to C. vancouveriensis were found for sea urchins fed Mazzaella splendens, Nereocystis luetkeana (blade), or Ulva lactuca (p-values = 0.8087, 0.1348, and 0.1592, respectively). A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) found there was a significant difference in wet weight change among treatment groups, with sea urchins fed Egregia menziesii showing a significant increase compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). However, gonad index did not differ significantly among the experimental groups (p = 0.41) when analyzing with an ANOVA. In the summer trial, a significantly higher dry weight consumption for sea urchins fed Desmarestia ligulata was found compared to those fed Nereocystis luetkeana (blade) or Sargassum muticum (p = 0.0002 and < 0.0001, respectively). In contrast, sea urchins fed Desmarestia consumed significantly less than those fed N. luetkeana (stipe) (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in daily consumption of dry weight over the course of the experiment (p = 0.3665). Utilizing an ANOVA statistical test, there was a significant difference in wet weight change among treatment groups, with all fed groups showing significantly higher weight gain compared to the unfed group. Sea urchins fed N. luetkeana (stipe) showed a significantly greater change in wet weight compared to those fed S. muticum and N. luetkeana (blade) (p < 0.05). Utilizing an ANOVA statistical test, the gonad index also differed significantly between groups, with sea urchins fed Desmarestia ligulata having a higher gonad index than those fed N. luetkeana (blade) (p = 0.048).2027-07-2
Snowfall & Sustainability: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for Colorado's Ski Industry
Full text link40 pagesThis thesis investigates adaptation and mitigation strategies that Colorado’s ski resorts can implement to remain viable in an industry vulnerable to climate change. Home to the highest concentration of ski resorts in the U.S., Colorado’s ski industry contributes over $1.4 billion annually to state GDP and plays a critical role in regional tourism and economic development. However, rising temperatures, declining snowfall, and increasingly variable precipitation patterns due to climate change threaten snow reliability and shorten ski seasons, posing significant risks to the industry. The goal of this research is to identify ways for Colorado’s ski industry to maintain operations despite the physical and transitional risks that climate change poses. This research analyzes the economic value of the ski industry, historical climate data from 2000–2024, and the sustainability initiatives of Vail Resorts Inc., a leading operator in the sector. Drawing on these findings, the thesis proposes three strategies to enhance climate resilience: expanded snowmaking, adoption of dry slope technology, and emissions reductions through more sustainable transportation. Ultimately, the study underscores the need for proactive adaptation and mitigation to secure the future of ski resort operations in a changing climate
Relationships Between Perceived Social Support, Depressive Symptoms, and Suicidal Ideation in Older Adulthood: Variations Based on Biological Sex and Partnership Type
No full textPerceived social support is consistently associated with better physical and mental health outcomes in older adulthood. In this dissertation I examined the associations between the number and combination of sources of perceived social support (i.e., spouse/partner, child, family, and friend support) and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, in a nationally-representative sample of older adults living in the United States. Further, I examined if the association between perceived spousal/partner support and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation differ by partnership type (i.e., same-sex or different -sex) or participant sex. I examined these relationships with data from the 2020 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) utilizing a novel multilevel modeling approach termed multilevel analysis of individual heterogeneity and discriminatory accuracy (MAIHDA) that allowed the effects of each unique combination of sources of perceived social support to be examined in a single, parsimonious model. In general, the effects of different sources of perceived social support on both depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were additive, indicating that more sources of perceived social support were associated with fewer depressive symptoms and a lower likelihood of suicidal ideation, for both males and females. For depressive symptoms in particular, perceived spousal/partner support was associated with the lowest predicted depressive symptom scores for both males and females, regardless of other individual sources or combinations of sources of perceived support. Further, the association between perceived spousal/partner support and depressive symptoms was significant regardless of relationship type (same- or different-sex/sex unknown). Consistent with prior evidence, female participants reported significantly more depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation compared to male participants. However, I found females who reported perceiving significant support from their partner/spouse, child(ren), and friends had similar predicted depressive symptoms and likelihood of endorsing suicidal ideation compared to the average male participant. Indicating that significant perceived social support from enough sources may buffer older females’ increased risk of depression and suicidal ideation. Findings related to the moderating effect based on relationship type are limited by same-sex partners sample size, but supplement extant evidence that perceived partner/spousal support can be a significant protective factor for same-sex older adults, who are at increased risk of depression and suicidal ideation as compared to heterosexual older adults. Overall, findings indicate that strengthening perceived social support from as many sources as possible (e.g., partner, friends, children, other family) may be a useful focus of interventions aimed at reducing risk of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation for all older adults, and such an intervention is particularly important for older females. Further research is needed to test causality of the relationship between perceived social support and mental health and explore how cultural understandings of perceived social support affect this relationship.2026-10-1
HOW UNIVERSITY OF OREGON STUDENT-ATHLETES EXPERIENCE NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS
Full text link50 pagesThis research paper explores how University of Oregon student-athletes have been affected by NIL in terms of overall experiences, recruitment, and professional development while exploring whether these impacts vary across sport or gender. Through interview conversations with University of Oregon women’s lacrosse and women’s track & field student-athletes, this thesis attempts to explain how NIL may be affecting UO student-athletes. Through analyzing the interviews, this thesis demonstrates the varying levels of impact student-athletes’ experiences in the four themes of overall experiences, recruitment, inequalities and barriers, and professional development. Finally, this project offers insights into how small changes at the university level can help better support student-athletes during and after their college careers
Moving Away From Criminalization Theorizing A Model of Sex Work In The United States
Full text link69 pagesThe Nordic Model of sex work is a legislative approach to sex work regulation in which the purchase of sex is criminalized while the act of selling sex is decriminalized. The primary goal of this approach is to reduce demand by clients and ultimately abolish the industry. Through an analysis of the historical criminalization of sex work, the contemporary industry's structure, and the institutional discrimination sex workers face, this thesis evaluates whether the Nordic Model is a viable approach to sex work regulation in the United States. It asks: How did Progressive Era anxieties shape and continue to influence sex work regulation in the U.S.? How do race, class, sexuality, gender identity, and immigration status affect conditions for sex workers? Is it feasible to apply the Nordic Model of sex work to the U.S. context? Are alternative models, such as legalization or decriminalization, better suited to the U.S. context? In the U.S., the Nordic model does not account for racial and gender inequities, economic disparities, and the socio-historical impacts of Progressive Era policies that perpetuate cycles of poverty and incarceration for marginalized communities and reinforce white supremacist nationalist ideals. I argue that the Nordic Model is unsuitable for the U.S. due to its roots in sex work abolition, lack of recognition of the socio-historical landscape of the U.S., and its failure to protect sex workers' rights, safety, and well-being. Ultimately proposing a model rooted in Intersectional Socialist Feminism, implementing Critical Race Theory and Queer-Trans abolitionist values, that recognizes the unique history of the U.S. sex trade, whilst prioritizing the rights, safety, and well-being of sex workers