2021 Winners

1st Place

Sean Bohnet

“Psinging Goudimel’s Goodies”

ABSTRACT:
One key aspect for renewal in liturgical communities, is the form and function their worship services adopt. In part to social and political unrest, there exists a growing body of scholarship and practice that intend to reclaim aspects of the Protestant Reformation. Crucial to the advancement of this branch of Christianity was the use of music especially hymnody and psalmody.

Sixteenth century composer Claude Goudimel helped advance the potency of the Huguenot Psalter, a song book where each psalm was married with a melody, when he harmonized it in 1564. While notable scholarship has been done in the field of sixteenth century protestant reformation music, a comprehensive and accessible version of the Huguenot Psalter as harmonized by Goudimel in modern notation does not exist.

The following thesis establishes the background and credence necessary for meeting this need along with select transcription examples.

Sean Bohnet a master's student in Music History studying under Dr. Barry Bilderback

2nd Place

Evan Jones

“A Vaccine Pill for Fish”

ABSTRACT:
The aquaculture industry continues to grow at a rapid pace; however, it experiences losses due to preventable diseases that cost an estimated 10 billion dollars annually.

Vaccinations are typically used to prevent these diseases, however much of the mortality occurs in the first 6 months of the fish’s life. These fish are too small to receive most commercial vaccines, which are injection based. Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a novel oral vaccine particle, or pill, that can be fed directly to fish.

This research will focus on comparing the antibody response and protective effects of the oral vaccine to other vaccination routes, such as injection, in two fish species: rainbow trout (Onchorynchous mykiss) and sablefish (Anaplopoma fimbria). If there is evidence that the oral particle can provide a similar response as these other methods, it can reduce production costs in aquaculture and provide cheaper fish for the market.

Evan Jones is a master’s student in Natural Resources under Dr. Ken Cain

3rd Place

Kayla Yearout

“Blackleg Disease of Canola in Northern Idaho”

ABSTRACT:
Blackleg disease of canola, caused by the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans, is a major constraint to production of canola (Brassica napus) worldwide and an emerging threat in Idaho. Blackleg can cause severe stem lesions and cankers, resulting in detrimental yield loss. In northern Idaho blackleg was first identified in 2009. As a recent introduction it is crucial to understand the biology of L. maculans and its epidemiology specific to this region to develop management strategies.

Research objectives aim to identify the most common disease-causing genes in the pathogen population, determining when initial disease infection occurs and if it is caused by wind-blown or rain-splashed spores, and identifying the optimal time of fungicide application to reduce disease incidence and severity. It is from this research that grower guidelines for best management practices can be developed specific to the production of canola in northern Idaho.

Kayla Yearout is a master’s student in Plant Science studying under Dr. Kurt Schroeder

People's Choice

Anilkumar Krosuri

“Efficient degradation and mineralization of methylene blue via continuous-flow electrohydraulic plasma discharge”

ABSTRACT:
A novel, continuous-flow electrohydraulic plasma discharge (EHPD) process characteristic of establishing a stable discharge through the conducting channel in the center orifice of a dielectric plate was developed and investigated to degrade methylene blue (MB) in water. The effect of three operating parameters, i.e., liquid flow rate (37-94 ml/min), air flow rate (1-4 L/min), and initial dye concentration (10-100 mg/L), on the MB degradation efficiency was evaluated.

The results indicated 100% degradation of MB was achieved within 10 min of treatment for all MB concentrations tested and the mineralization showed 92.5% COD removal for 100 mg/L MB. The energy efficiency for different operating parameters was in the range between 0.16g/kWh-0.81g/kWh at 50% conversion. The overall results indicated that the novel, continuous-flow EHPD is a robust and highly effective process for degradation and mineralization of MB, a potential technology that can overcome the limitations of advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment.

Anikumar Krosuri is a doctoral student in Environmental Science studying under Dr. Sarah Wu