Carbohydrate phloem loading mechanism in Nicotiana tabacum via the downregulation of sucrose transporter 1

Jennah Brown, Forestry, Fire & Rangeland Management Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Food security has become a growing concern as we look to the future. Having a thorough understanding of plant functioning can help predict effects brought to crops under a changing climate. This study seeks to better understand the carbohydrate phloem loading mechanism in Nicotiana tobacum by intentionally downregulating the sucrose transporter gene (SUT1). The phloem loading mechanism transports sugars and amino acids from photosynthetic sites to conducting sieve tubes. Such a process is essential for plant growth, storage, and cellular function. N. tobacum resembles those of major crops, and can be used as a model species for addressing food security concerns in other favorable crops.

Case Study Focusing on ASD, Improving Accuracy in Sports with SDT and Video Modeling

Cassandra Mcmillen, Other Graduate Student

College of Professional Studies

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a teacher selected video model on the performance of the golf putt. The researcher believes a systematic approach of instruction will improve skill development for both participants. For this single subject study a changing criterion design was used. Overall, a changing criterion study provides a structured and adaptive approach to skill development, fostering progressive improvement, motivation, and the transfer of learning, all of which contribute to increased accuracy and technique on the skill of putting. Results indicate that there was a gradual upward trend in both participants' successfully attempted putts.

CCAT: Conjoining Social and Natural Systems

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

As a senior in Environmental Studies I have chosen to complete my service learning capstone project at the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) since I am one of the co-directors managing the non-profit organization. CCAT is a student run sustainable living demonstration site that utilizes appropriate technology. While at CCAT I have analyzed and critiqued how social systems and natural systems overlay one another creating a sustainable relationship. Living lighter and in tune with the local environment is not only doable but rewarding and beneficial. My service learning project has helped to fill part of the gap between where I am now and where I aim to be professionally.

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.

Cham, The Sacred Dance of Tibet

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

During the summer of 2019, I was given the opportunity to participate in the HSU Tibet program under the direction of Anthony Rossi. The program is set up to allow each student a chance to conduct field observations of various topics. My focus, as a Religious Studies major, was set to learn about the various ritualistic practices unique to Tibet Buddhist. The ritual that I have chosen to focus on is the Tibetan Buddhist Cham, a festival dance that we observed in Drigung on June 30. My goal is that my project gives a comprehensive understanding of the religious goals of this ritual through an analysis of the dance formation, history, and meanings to its community.

Changes in Motivation and Intention to Change Multiple Health Behaviors Associated with a College Health Course

Joshua Worthington, Psychology Graduate Student

College of Professional Studies

Drawing from the theory of planned behavior, the present study examined changes in self-reported health behaviors, and attitudes and intentions to change behaviors across outcomes of diet, exercise, tobacco smoking, and stress management before and after a health class. Students in several sections of a Health Psychology course (N=477) were invited to complete an online survey assessing self-reported health behaviors, and importance, confidence. Improved intentions, confidence, and importance were reported most health behaviors observed.

Changing Clothes: The Handmaid's Uniform as a Symbol of Protest

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

The bright red cloak and fearsome white bonnet featured in The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood has been internationally recognized as a symbol for protest. Bruce Miller’s Hulu adaptation of the novel propelled this new wave of activism. I argue that the costume functions as a metonym, reacting to larger issues concerning women’s rights. This study examines whether the uniform is a viable protest image or is it being co-opted to get people to buy into a certain social and political system?

Characterization of a Novel Endocellulase Enzyme for Biofuel Optimization

Amanda Ratcliff, Chemistry Undergraduate Student

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Currently food crops are used to produce bioethanol production, while plant waste cellulose could be used. However, cellulase enzymes are a limiting factor. We sought to characterize a novel cellulase identified by metagenomic analysis of bovine rumen by the JGI and Hess et al. We performed protein expression, genomic analysis, and characterization by SDS-PAGE, CMC and DNS activity assays, and electron microscopy of cellulose degradation. Our data indicates the cellulase is an endoglucanase with an activity of 6.27 cm2/ug, or 6x higher than commercial cellulase enzymes. These results have implications for creating efficient biofuels from agricultural waste products versus the current methods

Characterization of Photosynthetic Productivity and Growth in A.Thaliana Mutants

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

This project studies photosynthetic phenotypes of six Arabidopsis Thaliana mutants under fluctuating light intensity and flat light intensity chambers. Photosynthetic and biomass results from this study have possible implications for these mutants' mechanisms of light energy quenching and heat release. Further investigations into these implications could identify genes that are responsible for high photosynthetic productivity in A. Thaliana, leading to their implementation in important plants for biofuel and crop production.

Characterizing the genetic diversity of immune genes in a non-native population of American Bullfrogs in Humboldt County, California

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is a highly invasive species that has successfully colonized different habitats around the world. The level of genetic variability in a population may help determine how resistant a population is to pathogens and how persistent an invasive population may be over time. Our project’s objective was to isolate and characterize the genetic diversity of a rapidly evolving immune gene in an invasive bullfrog population near the Mad River in Humboldt County, CA. We isolated four genetically distinct alleles from 16 frogs. When included with alleles from related species, we detected positive selection acting on putative binding sites.