The role of the transcription factor cJun in the regulation of murine embryonic stem cell potency

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The OCT4 gene is a POU class V transcription factor essential for establishment of the inner cell mass, pluripotency and self -renewal of embryonic stem cells (ESs). OCT4 gene expression is controlled by various mechanisms including transcription factor regulation. The AP-1 transcription factor c-Jun is known to affect proliferation, apoptosis, and cell survival. Its transcriptional activity is increased by phosphorylation of L40/42 by Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). In this study, we examine the role of c-Jun on the regulation of Oct4 expression.

The Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Wildlife Management & Conservation

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

My Ideafest poster will be looking at ways in which traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) can be used to help with wildlife management an conservation efforts. traditional ecological knowledge can be used to get information on wildlife populations and habitats where proper scientific data is lacking, either from the past or due to being in a remote area. I will also be exploring potential problems from using traditional ecological knowledge and explaining how it is best used when paired with scientifically sound data.

The Simplest Solution Is Almost Always The Best

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

We have discovered that online teaching is hard, and I am no expert, however I did what to better understand what types of presentations are possible when you have limited funds and even more limited expertise. The simplest solution is almost always the best. I believable this statement and reference it often when I am working on a problem. However I wanted to look at some ideas. In this presentation I will explore, through demonstration several ways of presenting online. My initial focus was to find ways to do home video with better sound, but a little research has shown me that with a some effort and a small investment you can create more interesting and engaging material for students.

The Smith River Plain Water Quality Management Plan: A collaborative Effort Between the Regional Water Board and Cal Poly Humboldt

Logan Wolfe, Chemistry Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The Smith River, known as one of the most pristine watersheds in the continental United States, dissects agricultural land used for Easter lily cultivation in the Smith River Plain of Del Norte County, California. It is estimated that this region grows 95% of all Easter lilies grown in the world. High amounts of pesticides are applied during cultivation to combat nematodes and fungi. The Regional Water Board created the Smith River Plain Water Quality (SRPWQ) Management Plan in response to pesticide and fertilizer concentrations that have exceeded USEPA benchmarks. Included in this plan are Best Management Practices (BMPs) that aim to improv

The Societal and Envrionmental Importance of Fire

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

My research project will explore the significance of fire. I will be researching the importance of fire in environments and communities, and how we can learn from past fire management in order to improve our modern fire management.

The Sodium Channel Blocker Tricaine Reduces Regeneration in Lumbriculus variegatus:a Study at the Ultrastructural and Light Microscopic Levels

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Lumbriculus variegatus has great ability to regenerate from small fragments into a new worm. In this study, we expose the worms to the voltage-gated sodium channel blocker Tricaine (MS-222) and examine somatic regeneration of heads and tails following body transection. Images of regenerating worms under normal conditions and treated worms with (1700μm) of tricaine were examined after amputation through TEM, SEM, and light level. Regeneration of both new head and tail body segments was reduced in the presence of tricaine, especially in the tail regeneration. Therefore, voltage- gated sodium channels showed to affect regeneration in the blackworms.

The Star Spangled Banner at Sporting Events: 1968-2018

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This study examines the renditions of and reactions to “The Star Spangled Banner” at sporting events in the United States from 1968 - 2018. First, music as rhetoric is defined. Second, the tradition of including the national anthem at sporting events is discussed. Third, specific examples of positive and negative reactions to different versions of “The Star Spangled Banner” at major U.S. sporting events from 1968 on are identified and examined. Finally, the symbolism of the national anthem in sports is described.

The struggle for a K -21 Education

College of Professional Studies

The demographics of K-12 public schools in CA have changed dramatically since the 1980s today students of color make up 75% of the student body. Since 1980 the number of White students in the CSU has gone from 70% to just 26.5% in 2015. Ever since the 1980s we have seen a divestment in K-12 and in the CSU. This research will not only describe the crisis in k-12 and higher education schooling but also create the changes needed for a sustainable future. This qualitative study proposes a paradigm shift of INVESTMENT- social justice, multilingualism, learner centered, nepantla, ethnic studies, African Indigenous knowledge, and sentipensante pedagogy in order for all our students to succeed.

The Surface Distribution of Trace Metals Along a Pacific Meridional Transect: GEOTRACES GP-15 Research Cruise

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Many trace metals are delivered to the ocean in the form of wind-blown sediments and by riverine input, some of which are essential micronutrients. Iron has been found to play a significant role in limiting biological productivity in many regions of the ocean such as in the California Current System. Investigating this distribution of trace metals provides insight into processes affecting surface ocean waters. In Fall 2018, the GEOTRACES GP-15 cruise traveled from Alaska to Tahiti along the 152°W meridian, a region yet to be well characterized for trace metals. Our group is interested in the distribution of scandium in surface waters as a proxy for understanding processes affecting iron.

The Table Tabletop: A beautiful, awful game with my friends

Thomas Franaszek, Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The presentation is a showcase of a tabletop roleplaying game I made and played with my friends. The game was initially a way to connect in the the hard times of the Covid lockdown, but became much more than that. It demonstrates how the art and storytelling of myself and my friends has evolved over three years.