Healthy Youth, Healthy Communities

College of Professional Studies

Our goal is to demonstrate the importance of connection between the natural environment, community, individuals, and wellness. We are creating a curriculum to provide a non-traditional prevention/intervention program of outdoor, wilderness activities for youth in the Southern Humboldt region. It is important to note, Ecological Systems Theory is the foundational framework for this project. The ecosystemic perspective is a way of thinking and organizing knowledge that emphasizes the interrelatedness and interdependency between individuals and social systems (Waller 2001). The purpose of our work; promoting healthy activities for youth in order to foster a healthier community.

Helena Fire Burn Severity and Effects on Vegetation

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The Helena fire occured August 30th– November 15th as a consequence of a power line contacting a tree limb on Bureau of Land Management public lands and spread to Trinity Alps Wilderness and Weaverville in Trinity County, California. This study examines before and after effects of this devastating fire using the Burn Index (BI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) using Landsat 8 images and ENVI and ArcGIS software. Burn severity acreage was calculated within fire State Responsibility Areas (SAR) and the results summarized using high, moderate and very high burn categories. The BI showed a 61% area effected by wildfire resulting in a 53% NDVI decrease within Helena fire SAR.

Hell Bent on Consent

College of Professional Studies

On college campuses, the topic of sexual consent has received much attention over the past 15 years. Consent is a multifaceted term, and can incorporate an internal state of willingness, an act of explicitly agreeing to something, and behavior that someone else interprets as consent (Muehlenhard et al., 2016). Despite the attention to sexual consent within higher education, it is unknown whether or not this trend is reflected in human sexuality textbooks. The current study involved a content analysis of how the construct of sexual consent is represented in five major human sexuality textbooks in terms of location, definition, scope, and context.

Helping the Community Save Energy

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Our project is focused on developing educational materials on energy efficiency targeted to renters and student residence hall occupants. We are developing a checklist of possible actions that will include building energy efficiency, appliances, transportation, and energy purchasing options that are available to typical renters, who do not have the ability to make major improvements to their home. The main outcome will be a set of appropriate outreach materials to help deliver these messages. We will develop draft materials, workshop these with current renters, and improve the messages based on their feedback. The goal is to empower renters to make positive clean energy choices.

Hericium Erinaceus (Lions Maine) Effects on Neurogenesis, Synaptic Plasticity, and Memory Retention in Alzheimer's Patients

David Christal, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

This research aims to investigate the neuroprotective potential of Hericium erinaceus (Lion’s Mane mushroom), focusing on its effects on neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and memory retention in Alzheimer’s patients. Hericium erinaceus is rich in bioactive compounds such as erinacines and hericenones, which have been shown to stimulate nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, reduce oxidative stress, and protect neurons from apoptosis and inflammation. These properties of Hericium erinaceus suggest a potential role in enhancing the treatment and management of Alzheimer’s disease.

High-Touch, Low-Tech: Managing Postpartum Engorgement

College of Professional Studies

Chest/breast engorgement is a common source of pain in the postpartum period. According to Huda et al. (2021) breast engorgement and pain are the leading cause of early discontinuation of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is life-saving, cost-effective, sustainable for the planet, and keeps parents, and babies healthier. A high-touch, low-tech approach to the management of engorgement can be utilized through gentle breast massage and hand expression. The implementation of supportive patient-centered care can increase in-hospital breastfeeding rates. Human milk is the optimal first food to support overall health and provide food security for infants in any situation.

HiiMR Marijuana Dispensary Data

College of Professional Studies

Changes in dispensary density by country in California

Histories of Chinese Communities in Humboldt County: A Source Collection

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

This research project examines the historical experience of Chinese communities living in Humboldt County in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, with particular focus on the 1885 Chinese expulsion from Eureka. Offering a broad survey of primary sources, the project delves into personal letters, court cases, retrospective reports, newspaper articles, maps, and photographs to piece together a multi-faceted picture of the Chinese experience in the region. Newspapers from the time also shed light on the expulsion of the majority of the Chinese population from Eureka on 8 February 1885, a tumultuous event that dramatically transformed the culture and history of the county.

History of Prior Concussion Has No Negative Effect on Neurocognitive Performance Following Competitive Seasons in Uninjured Collegiate Soccer Athletes

College of Professional Studies

Researchers have hypothesized a dose-response relationship between concussion history and decrements in neurocognitive function. However, dose-response evidence is uncertain among soccer athletes. Athletes from the HSU men’s and women’s soccer teams completed a computerized neurocognitive test before and after a soccer season. We observed no significant changes from preseason to postseason in ImPACT composite scores across any concussion group (p>0.05). Prior concussions did not result in immediate decreased neurocognitive function among collegiate soccer athletes. Participation in intercollegiate soccer for 1 or 2 competitive seasons does not negatively influence neurocognitive performance.

History of the Book: Digital Exhibits Featuring the HSU Rare Books Collection

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Students from Heather Madar's Art 301M: History of the Book class will present their digital exhibits. These exhibits showcase materials from the HSU library's Rare Book collections. Mary Bone's exhibit uses a comparative framework to explore music and song books from the collection and examines them in light of their cultures of origin and use. Chia Chen's exhibit takes a close look at a book that features a set of the 1957 remake of Debucourt's fashion plates from 1789-1808. Originally published in women's fashion journals, these plates modeled late 18th century Parisian clothing styles and also display contemporary manners and customs.