Our project investigates the cross-talk between cells contained within the human coronary atherosclerotic plaque using single-cell technologies. We mapped the transcriptome of the plaque using 10x transcriptomics and validated our findings with immunohistochemistry and in vitro assays. We found a predominance of memory T cells suggesting T cells were recruited by antigen engagement with their cognate peptide presented by myeloid cells. Using in vitro assays, we also found activation of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic pathways in smooth muscle cells after exposure to T cell cytokines. Our analysis suggests that T cells communicate with myeloid and smooth muscle cells within the plaque

The purpose of this study was to increase physical fitness skills within adult populations with intellectual disabilities in the areas of walking, push-ups, curl-ups through a self-determination model. This was achieved through collaborative engagements with graduate-level students. Within this collaboration participants chose exercise goals and success criteria. An exercise program was established to increase participant skills over five sessions and teach participants how to be independent in their physical fitness endeavors and environments. The goal was to determine if experiences within this study would lead to increased skill level surrounding physical fitness through SDT.

Acute aggression poses a risk of harm to patients and staff in acute care. On one hand, disparities in the management of aggression are well documented, with factors like race affecting the likelihood of restraint use. However, agitation is also a leading cause of staff injury, with the majority of such injuries occurring during the application of restraints. Using the Model for Evidence-Based Practice Change, this project aims to implement an aggression order set modeled after the Project BETA (Best Practices in the Evaluation and Treatment of Agitation) guidelines. With this approach, duration of restraint application and incidence of staff injury will decrease by 50% over the next year.

Black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) share the same niche with various competitor species, influencing and effecting their behavior accordingly. Recent studies show that black-crowned night herons are mainly active during dusk and dawn due to the decreased presence of competitor species at these times, suggesting there nocturnal behavior is an adaption. During my study, I observed the proportion of high and low activity of black crowned night herons in relationship to presence of competitor species and the time of day. My data suggest greater numbers of black-crowned night herons with high presence of competitors, and higher activity level with less competiton.

The Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival held its first Breath of Life Workshop in 1996. The Breath of Life Workshop connects tribal participants with Native American language archival collections at the University of California at Berkeley for the purpose of bringing back into use languages with no living fluent speakers. During Breath of Life, participants use archives to complete a research project that can be completed in a week. Participants finish the workshop prepared to conduct archival research independently at any archive, including Humboldt State University's Humboldt Room, home of the Center for Indian Community Development Collection.

A wide range of environmental, social, and economic factors contribute to the issue of food insecurity. Despite being overwhelmingly agriculturally based economies, rural communities are some of the areas most at risk for high levels of food insecurity. This work addresses why the unequal distribution of food within an area of relative food abundance cannot be understood through the same lens as urban food deserts, but must be analyzed from the bottom up: following the supply chain of food throughout the social, environmental, and economic structures of the rural community.

This fall Open Door Community Health Centers (ODCHC) experienced a extremely high number of patients whose anxiety and agoraphobia made it difficult for them to engage in valued life activities. I was asked to assist with developing and implementing a therapeutic group to support these individuals because clinicians at this organization were experiencing such large caseloads that it was difficult for them to effectively serve all the clients who needed support. The goal of this project was to create a group therapy setting where clients could be treated in a sustainable and time effective way.

The LSEE 380 pilot class has been working in South Fortuna the past semester, working with 3rd and 4th graders on the concepts of Social Justice. We have asked the classes to help us determine the problems they see around their selves, community, and world. We asked "what would you do to change the problems around you?" This is the outcome...

This project fulfills the requirements for the Masters degree in Social Work. The design of the project is informed by a relational worldview, specifically the work of Terry Cross who suggests that a circular experience of the world intersects with more linear representations of reality. It is at the places of intersection that opportunities for dialogue occur and the intent of the project is to make the experiences of first responders visible to those who do not have access to this knowledge and experience. The creative work is the construction of an empathic bridge between the community and first responders through poetry in honor of the belief that we are all connected.

In conjunction with the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology(AT), for my service learning project, I sought to share intersectional knowledge with the HSU community and beyond of self-resiliency, while being mindful of one’s impact upon the earth through appropriate technology and food sovereignty. Students and community members worked together to construct a communal garden that included AT construction techniques and promoted ecologically sound sustainable food systems that are beneficial to the entire community. It was my goal to empower individuals to become agents of change within our global community and invoke values that promoted the well being of the environment and people.