May 2, 2025
Reception & Presentations 2pm to 5pm
Cal Poly Humboldt Library
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Presenters & Abstracts: Search
Decreasing patient readmission rates.
Anna Branson
Nursing
Undergraduate Student
College of Professional Studies
Patient readmissions within 30 days of discharge not only cost hospitals around 15,000 dollars per incident but also indicate increased mortality rates and worse patient outcomes. Readmissions occur for multiple reasons such as, lack of clear discharge instruction, delayed primary care follow-up, medication issues, or worsening symptoms. Hospitals must take a multidisciplinary approach to addressing this issue. Interventions can be implemented to improve readmission rates, like discharge calls within 48 hours, creation of hospital policy to guide the call, and primary care follow-up within 10 days. With better transition from hospital to primary care, patient readmissions will decrease.
Women's Intrasexual Competitiveness Tracks Changes in Their Testosterone Levels
Hannah Ferguson
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
Karina Gigear
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
Ben Jones
Lisa DeBruine
Amanda Hahn
Psychology
Faculty
College of Professional Studies
To investigate the role of hormones in female intrasexual competition, we carried out a longitudinal study of changes in intrasexual competitiveness (Study 1) and assessed intrasexual competition in women using various forms of hormonal contraceptives (Study 2). Study 1: Multilevel modeling of the data revealed a significant, positive within-subject effect of testosterone on intrasexual competition, indicating that women reported greater intrasexual competitiveness when testosterone was high. Study 2: No significant differences were observed for reported intrasexual competition among women using combined oral contraceptives versus women using progesterone-only contraceptives.
Effects of Freshwater on Purple Sea Urchin and Bull Kelp Dynamicx at the Mouths of Rivers Along the Mendocino Coast
Marina
Storey
Biological Sciences
Graduate Student
Izzy
Shirah
Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Urchins are voracious herbivores that mow down kelp forests turning them into urchin barrens. This regime shift from kelp forests to urchin barrens has led to the closer of the red abalone fishery which had an estimated value of $44 million dollars.
In Mendocino CA, bull kelp has been observed persisting at the river mouths in making an interest to local and scientific communities. Urchins are known to not do well with lower salinities possibly leading to this phenomenon.
Quality Control Methods for Analyzing Metals in Seawater: Blanks
Kezia Rasmussen
Chemistry; Oceanography
Undergraduate Student
Elizabeth Freeman
Chemistry
Undergraduate Student
Claire Till
Chemistry
Faculty
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Many metals in seawater are key micronutrients, essential in small quantities for the growth of phytoplankton. Analysis of these metals can be challenging due to their low concentration and the complex seawater matrix. Properly quantifying the blanks of the analytical method is critical to obtaining excellent results. In this work, we present preliminary data on accurately and precisely quantifying the blanks due to the analytical process of measuring metals in seawater. Once the blanks are properly quantified and minimized, the method can be used with seawater samples.
DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF HIGH-INCLINE WALKING ON BIOMECHANICAL VARIABLES AND EMG PATTERNS ON DIFFERENT TREADMILL DECK SYSTEMS
ROHIT
KUNDU
School of Applied Health
Graduate Student
College of Professional Studies
While walking on the ground and using a treadmill are the standard mode of exercise, treadmill walking has gained popularity recently. Treadmills are more efficient and reliable because of the better control of speed, and grade, and can be used in all weather conditions. Even though multiple studies looked over the impact of surfaces at different inclines at biomechanics (gait, impact forces, tibial acceleration, and muscle activation), still the impact of surfaces has not been examined using different treadmill manufacturers while comparing high-incline (20%) with low-incline (1%).
Fixed and Growth Mindset Shift Through Primed Short-Term Interventions
Ana Beltran-Castillo
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
Caitlin Mace
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
Zach Hufft
Psychology
Undergraduate Student
College of Professional Studies
There is more that differentiates students who succeed in school from those who do not, and focusing on differences in IQ will yield little to no knowledge about why some succeed and others fall behind. Research on growth and fixed mindset has shown that the way students perceive their intelligence, skills, and/or abilities has the potential to impact their academic performance (Dweck, 2006) . This study investigates the immediate impact of being presented with fixed or growth mindset information and uses time spent on problem questions as a measure of mindset.
Construction of Niemann Pick Disease Type C1 HEK293 Cell Model Utilizing CRISPR Gene Editing
Stephanie Valencia
Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Student
Austin Kraff
Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Student
Haley Nisson
Biological Sciences
Undergraduate Student
John W. Steele IV
Biological Sciences
Faculty
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Niemann Pick Disease Type C1 (NPC1) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder that affects 1:150,000 people. The disease is characterized by cholesterol accumulation within lysosomes, as well as clinical cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. These symptoms can be attributed to a mutation in the NPC1 gene that leads to the interruption of the intracellular cholesterol transport. Using CRISPR Cas9 technology, the ability to make a cellular model with inducible CRISPR gene regulation can give researchers considerable insight into the cellular pathology of Niemann Pick Disease Type C1 as well as the ability to apply targeted drug therapy and potentially lead to drug discovery.
The effects of simulated acid rain on web-spinning spiders in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico
Yuliana Rowe-Gaddy
Wildlife
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Our objective of this study was to assess the effects of simulated acid rain on web-spinning spider assemblages in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, and we hypothesized that acid rain would decrease the richness and abundance of web-spinning spider taxa. Spiders are an ideal bioindicator to study the effects of anthropogenic pollutants due to their abundance, position as apex predators, various foraging behaviors and the feasibility in collecting them. In our field experiment, quadrats were sprayed with water of varying pH levels. After the treatments, all web-spinning spiders in the quadrats were collected and identified and results were statistically analyzed.
The Effect of Workload on Exercise Volume during Exhaustive Anaerobic Treadmill Running
Taylor Kennon
Kinesiology
Graduate Student
Andrew Hahn
Kinesiology
Graduate Student
Nathan Tamayo
Kinesiology
Graduate Student
Boe Burrus
Kinesiology
Faculty
Taylor Bloedon
Kinesiology
Faculty
Young Sub Kwon
Kinesiology
Faculty
College of Professional Studies
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different workload protocols on exercise volume completed during multiple sets of exhaustive anaerobic running on a treadmill. The longer times per set and greater volume achieved during the descending speed (DS) protocol, in comparison to the descending grade (DG) and constant set (CS) protocols, suggests the potential for a greater training effect. Total exercise volume achieved during the four sets of the DS protocol was significantly higher than both the CS and DG protocols. Differences in cadence values among the protocols could help explain differences in performance implicating muscle fiber type recruitment and fatigue.
Challenging Boundaries: Investigating the relationship between human persecution and Coyote behavior in California
Steven
Childs
Wildlife
Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
This study seeks to examine the relationship between coyote behavior and proximity to areas of public lands where hunting frequently takes place and cosmopolitan areas where coyotes are generally free from being huntedover time using California Department of Fish and Wildlife Wildlife Incident Report data. Insights gained are intended to inform targeted management strategies, aiding in conservation and coexistence efforts between humans and coyotes.
The significance of this research lies in its contribution to addressing the pressing challenges of human-wildlife conflict, a pervasive issue with far-reaching implications.