Content analysis of the sexual assault prevention programs and education provided at the 23 universities within the California State University system.

Hesperocyparis bakeri, better known as Baker cypress, is a serotinous species which suffers from low seed viability. Previous research has shown that Baker cypress seed viability begins to decline with cone age and thus the low overall viability of Baker cypress cones is not unexpected (Milich et al., 2012). However, little is known about the cone age at which seed viability begins to decrease. We investigated seed viability in relation to cone age by sampling twenty branches from five Baker cypress trees located in Burney, Shasta County in north-eastern California. Seeds were scarified and placed in a 1% tetrazolium red solution for 18 hours, cut longitudinally to determine viability.

Wailaki is an indigenous Northern California language within the Dene (Athabaskan) language family historically spoken in the Eel River basin. The language is categorized as a 'sleeping' language as there are no longer living first language speakers; however, there are second language learners today. This project examines translations in texts for words used in the Wailaki directional system and determines if this system is closer to river-based systems common to Northwestern California, or cardinal direction-based systems. In addition, this research discusses the extent to which geospatial references may have been preferred to relative frames of reference involving the body (left, right).

In addition to many other barriers to degree completion, former foster youth may also have fewer financial resources to cover the high cost of attending college because they may not have as much family support as students who have not been in the foster care system. This presentation summarizes the work from my MSW community project and aims to describe how former foster youth attending Humboldt State University (HSU) may be experiencing housing displacement. Transitional Housing Placement Plus (THP-Plus) and Transitional Housing Placement Plus Foster Care (THP+FC) are supportive living environments for college-aged youth who were in foster care or probation.

According to the Rainforest Alliance, agriculture drives 80% of all deforestation on earth. Animal agriculture in particular is responsible for 14.5% of all global greenhouse emissions. Cattle ranching specifically is the greatest driver of deforestation in the Amazon rain forest. This poster was designed with the hopes of serving the Rainforest of the Americas exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo, informing visitors that food choices can make a difference in helping or hurting the Amazon rainforest and wildlife habitat. Reducing cattle farming is one major key to sustaining our planet for future generations. Plant-based diets have been found to have less impact on resource usage and emissions.

Consumers have similar daily patterns of electricity usage, and this causes peaks in demand. Spikes in electricity demand are inefficient for electricity producers and unnecessary costs are passed on to electricity consumers. Localized solar and battery systems are one way to ‘spread out’ electricity demand and reduce the amount of electricity sent through the grid at a given time. We created a model that describes the reduction in consumer demand by implementing a solar energy generation and battery storage system. Our model predicts >75% decrease in oscillations, and >5% decrease in costs.

My research recognizes, evaluates, and dissects the intersections of Political Theory and Communication to offer a rhetorical criticism of mainstream environmentalism. Through a careful analysis of case studies, political processes, and interdisciplinary theory, I illustrate and criticize how environmentalism as a justice movement has been co-opted by capitalism through its commodification and farcical regulation. In these regards, I conclude by acknowledging and appreciating the discursive efforts of Armory Lovins, Hunter Lovins, Paul Hawken for their work in Natural Capitalism, as well as the political progress of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez and her proposed Green New Deal.

This research evaluates the microplastic (MP) contents of commercially maricultured Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and wild mussels (Mytilus edulis) from Humboldt Bay (HB), California. Bivalves were collected from each of three different locations in HB, and oysters were cultivated in HB. All bivalves were digested with proteolytic enzyme complexes, vacuum filtered, and MP's were quantified by microscopic examination. All samples contained MP's, and significantly different concentrations of MP particles were found between bivalves collected from different locations. Results also suggest that Corolase 8000 is a more efficient enzyme complex than Corolase 7089 for this purpose.

At Humboldt State University we aim to create a robust CRISPR/Cas9 toolkit which enables one to overexpress, repress, inhibit transcription and perform double strand DNA cuts allowing one to undertake research on genes associated with cancer, autophagy and neurological diseases. These tools will enable future students, private sector, and academia to investigate a wide range of biological questions. Currently in the CRISPR/Cas9 system there are inherent problems ranging from indel mutations, poor gene locus targeting, low efficiency, and in vivo applications.We built upon the knowledge in Dr. Steele’s lab and chose to perform Hi-Fi assembly to overcome technological limitations that lowered.

We propose and analyze a mathematical model for the interaction of T cells and tumor cells using a system of ordinary differential equations with the goal of understanding immune-mediated tumor rejection. We explore parameter sets which yield qualitatively different behavior. A major goal of this work is the determination of parameters which play a critical role in remission or clearance of the cancer in the model. In addition to our ODE model, we present an agent-based model to illustrate how naïve T cells are primed in the lymph node to fight cancer. This priming involves antigen presentation, cytokine signaling, and chemotaxis.