Examining the role of the ADCY5 point mutation p.R418W on cellular cAMP levels and how cAMP affects neuronal differentiation of murine stem cells

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

ADCY5-related Dyskinesia is a rare movement disorder, with early onset in childhood and adolescence. Previous studies have linked this disease to various point mutations in the ADCY5 gene. One study has demonstrated two of these mutations cause an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). However, the molecular basis of this disease phenotype has yet to be fully understood. Our study seeks to characterize the effects of one specific point mutation, p.R418W, on cellular cAMP levels using HEK293T cells, and to determine if increased cAMP levels affect neuronal differentiation using mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).

Examining the Roles of Body-Esteem, Health-Efficacy, and Perfectionism on the Eating Patterns of Male and Female College Students

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This research explored the roles of health-efficacy, body-esteem, and perfectionism on the eating patterns of male and female psychology major college students in Northern California, and found that college students with low body-esteem and high levels of perfectionism tended to have a higher risk for abnormal eating patterns, R2=.60, F(3,61)=11.39, p<.001. Health-efficacy and perfectionism where not found to significantly influence eating patterns, R2=.03, F(2,62)=1.10, p=.34. Body-esteem was found to be the most significant contributor to abnormal eating patterns, b*=.58, t=5.56, p<.001, suggesting body-esteem is an important factor in examining eating patterns in college students.

Examining Validity of the Multidimensional Acculturative Stress Inventory Adapted for Armenian Americans

College of Professional Studies

Acculturative stress is experienced when individuals go through the process of acculturation (i.e., reconciling two or more cultures). Previous research has used the Multidimensional Acculturative Stress Inventory (MASI) to assess this stress. However, the measure has only been used with a limited number of ethnic groups. The current study examines the factor structure of the MASI with a community sample of Armenian Americans.

Exoplanets: Using Photometry and Spectroscopy to Explore Alien Worlds

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Over the last 20 years, thousands of planets outside our solar system have been discovered orbiting other stars. The discovery of these extra-solar planets, or exoplanets as they are commonly known, has been made possible by the gathering of photometric and spectroscopic data of stars. We use public data from the Kepler and Hubble space telescopes to analyze photometric and spectroscopic data respectively on select objects of interest. Through analysis of this data, we are able to determine many properties of these exoplanets such as radius, density, temperature and atmospheric makeup. Our long term goal is to find ways to improve current atmospheric analysis methods.

Experience of Gender Nonconforming Students on HSU Campus

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

As the campus population grows at Humboldt State University, so does the number of students who do not fit the male and female dichotomy. These folks who do not fit into this dichotomy are referred to as gender nonconforming. This is a small population on the HSU campus, and there is very little information on this particular group. In an effort to fill the gaps of what is unknown we propose to use three methods: a random survey of 900 HSU students, as well as semi-structures qualitative interviews, and a small number of oral histories from students who are gender nonconforming.

Experiential Education: Exploring More Effective Ways to Address Social and Environmental Justice with Children and Young Adults

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Experiential education incorporates approaches such as service learning, place-based education, and student-centered learning into traditional and nontraditional education settings. Based on my research paper on experiential education’s role in addressing climate change and justice (“Experiential Education: Preparing Our Climate Change Combaters of The Future”), I am also using my experience with service learning at SCRAP Humboldt to further explore how these forms of education can effectively teach social and environmental justice. These approaches provide children and young adults with better toolkits for becoming future leaders and active citizens in our rapidly changing world.

Exploratory Analyses of the Self and Group: Entitativity

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

We completed an exploratory secondary analysis examining 167 students’ perceptions of their self/group’s warmth, entitativity, and the extent to which they identity with their group. Results indicate that perceptions of self-warmth, group warmth, and entitativity each positively predict group identification. A mismatch of the group variables are indicative of a threatening ingroup (low group warmth and high entitativity). Findings suggest that positive views of the self can act as a protective function against a threatening ingroup and may be related to projecting positive images of the self onto the group.

Exploratory Study for Indoor Turf Field Facilities on the North Coast

Julia Hohman, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

This poster describes an exploratory study that was completed this semester to explore the question of whether or not there is a need for an indoor field on the North Coast that would provide a solution that allows organized field sports to continue activities during adverse weather conditions in the low-income areas of Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Gathering data for research was carried out by talking to local individuals involved in recreational facilities development and members of sports associations. It was written to raise awareness of the need for such a space and in the hope of getting the community a step closer to figuring out how to provide such a recreation facility.

Exploring Environmental Justice with Girl Scouts

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

For my service-learning project, I've teamed up with the Girl Scouts of Northern California to teach about environmental justice and the connections between social and environmental issues. The project aims to empower these brilliant young girls to take action locally and advocate for environmental justice. My presentation will summarize my experience working with girl scouts among different age groups, as the girls connect with each other to create community outlets for activism.

Exploring Recreation Based Therapy as an Effective Form of Treatment For Individuals Affected by Grief and Trauma

College of Professional Studies

Grief and/or trauma affect everyone at some point in their lives, yet there are few traditional resources available to those who need them due to various barriers and constraints such as geographical isolation or cost of affordable treatment. Within this project, recreation and leisure is explored as a treatment and/or mechanism for forward growth in those affected by trauma and/or grief.