Investigating the Genetic Diversity of Immune Genes in Non-Native Populations of American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus)

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is a highly invasive species that has successfully colonized different habitats around the world. Our project’s objective is to isolate and characterize the genetic diversity of a rapidly evolving immune gene in an invasive bullfrog population in California’s Sutter National Wildlife Refuge. The level of genetic variability in a population may help determine how resistant a population is pathogens and how persistent an invasive population may be over time. We compared the genetic diversity within this population to that found in other frog populations, including both native and non-native populations.

Investigating the Heterogeneous Catalysis of Volatile Organic Compounds by Environmental Metal Oxides

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Environmental metal oxides have multiple chemical interactions with natural and anthropogenic organics in the atmosphere. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) and pollutants such as; pesticides, fertilizers, and nitrates are introduced to the atmosphere through similar means as well as incomplete combustion from vehicles and industrial processes. Metal oxides like titanium (IV) oxide, TiO2, have photocatalytic effects that can further oxidize VOC and other adsorbed species. Acetone is a frequently measured VOC in the atmosphere. In our research we study how acetone and other organic species adsorb onto TiO2 and react catalytically in the presence of atmospheric oxidants such as ozone.

Investigating the Timing of Seed Maturation Inside Conifer Cones

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Evidence of high density non-serotinous recruitment post-fire questions if seed dispersal from a live tree is solely responsible. Studies suggest that seed maturation occurs before the cone scales reflex, and it’s possible that cone scales act as a protective barrier during fire, such that mature seeds are protected and remain germinable. If cone scales adequately protect seeds, then an aerial seed source post-fire is available for recruitment, relative to seed maturation and time of fire. This research aims to determine the timing of Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia seed maturation within a coniferous cone and its relationship to degree days.

Investigation into Cyanide Levels at the Arcata Wastewater Treatment Facility

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

The City of Arcata Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF) was issued a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit in 2019, which set a water quality objective for cyanide of 1.0 µg/L to protect saltwater ecosystems. Since enactment, the AWTF has exceeded the daily maximum effluent limit. This study used distillation and colorimetric analysis to investigate cyanide formation by comparing the cyanide levels in preserved and unpreserved samples taken concurrently with monitoring samples that were sent to a certified lab. Results found that found that unpreserved samples had no detectable levels of cyanide while preserved samples demonstrated a cyanide concentration of 0 to 1.7 µg/L.

Investigation of the Ubiquitin Proteosome’s Role in Tau Proteostasis and Tauopathy as Regulated by Cholesteryl Esters

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterized as cholesterol metabolism or storage disorders. Recently, the drug Efavirenz was implicated as a mediator of cholesterol-induced pathology in AD SC- based models. It restores function of MAP, tau, by mitigating cholesterol’s disruption of the UPS, which facilitates tau proteostasis. In this study, we are investigating the mechanistic target of cholesterol leading to UPS dysfunction. We are using human SC-derived neurons to model UPS dysfunction at different regulatory levels and determine which stages can be rescued with Efavirenz treatment. We will use this drug to aid in the complete characterization of cholesterol-mediated tauopathy.

Is Ice effective for acute injuries or should it go away?

Cali Martino, School of Applied Health Undergraduate Student

College of Professional Studies

My research project is about whether ice for acute injuries is effective. Evidence of how the body naturally heals damaged tissue doesn't line up with why we use ice on injuries. Ice helps with pain and swelling. Ice limits blood flow known as vasoconstriction which the body already naturally does. Staying in extended time in vasoconstriction may affect the healing of the injury. Ice has more negative effects that no one thinks of. PEACE & LOVE injury management is new and more people should know about it. Research should be done for the effectiveness of all elements.

Is the Customer Always Right? An Exploration of Customer-Cashier Interactions

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Interacting with cashiers is commonplace for most Americans. This study included exploration of the nature of customer-cashier interactions. The overarching finding was that social attitudes and expectations for cashiers create a climate in which cashiers are dehumanized and vulnerable. Ultimately, cashiers are expected to maintain a polite, enthusiastic, robotic persona while rules of conduct for customers are mostly unrestrictive. The results exhibit the importance of paying attention to one’s own attitudes and behaviors toward workers. Cashiers are human and attempting to look beyond their “customer service personas” is important to foster positive socialization and environments.

Is ‘Populism’ or the ‘Neoliberal Project’ Challenging Liberal Democratic Norms & Institutions?

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Conventional wisdom in academia and media often paint recent challenges to liberal democratic  norms and institutions as a a result of “populism”. In this lenses, the anti-pluralistic, and tribalistic  tendencies of the demos, or people, of a political community challenge the ‘liberal’ element of  liberal democracy. In this project I challenge this conventional wisdom, and argue that such an  analysis does not take into account the ​causes​ of the what is referred to as ‘populism’’. To  understand the causes, I argue that we must take a look at the cultural, political and economic  changes that have been unfolding since the late seventies.

Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, and Other Forms of Religious Prejudice in Humboldt County

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

In Fall, 2018, Religious Studies senior Michael Howell wrote a research paper for RS 332 "Introduction to Islam" on Islamophobia in Humboldt County. Professor Biondo encouraged Michael to expand the scope to examine religious prejudice more broadly. To help him interview twelve Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders in Humboldt County and to publish his findings, Michael was awarded an Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Award from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Does Humboldt contain an ideology or worldview (such as libertarianism, secularism, spirituality, or naturalism) that prevents violence or promotes civic engagement?

Island Biogeography: Invasive Species and Eradication Programs

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

For this project, a masters list of introduced mammals was provided. The masters list consisted of several different species of mammals who were classified by family, genus, species, and common names. Each species was accompanied by islands they were introduced too. Using the “Database of Island Invasive Species Eradication,” each animal on the list was searched for to see if they were successfully eradicated. If these animals had been eradicated, then the date and method of eradication were recorded. If these species didn’t show up on the database, then they were search for using various different search engines. If animals still remain of these islands the question becomes why?