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Analysis of Herbicides on Culturally Significant Plants Throughout Yurok Ancestral Territory
- Amanda MartinezChemistryUndergraduate Student
- Frank CappuccioChemistryFaculty
- Jenny CappuccioChemistryFaculty
- Robert ZoellnerChemistryFaculty
Use of herbicides by public and private entities throughout the Yurok ancestral territory, has raised concern for the health of Native peoples exposed to these organic residues on plant materials due to the significant roles that plants have within the Yurok culture (such as basket, medicinal and ceremonial purposes). The herbicides 2,4-D and Triclopyr are analyzed by using organic extraction followed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Additional research was also conducted such as computational calculations on 2,4-D and its derivatives along with more sampling sites added to this herbicide research.
Analysis of Language Surrounding Sexual Consent in College Human Sexuality Textbooks
- Cameron CarpenterPsychologyUndergraduate Student
- Wendy Nuttelman
- Savannah AielloPsychologyUndergraduate Student
- Indiana MurilloPsychologyUndergraduate Student
- Heather ReynoldsPsychologyUndergraduate Student
- Manuel FloresPsychologyUndergraduate Student
- Edith GomezPsychologyUndergraduate Student
- Benjamin GrahamPsychologyFaculty
Using corpus linguistics, we created an initial analysis on how consent is presented in undergraduate human sexuality textbooks. We investigated how consent was represented semantically, descriptively and contextually. These initial findings will inform future steps and provide us with a baseline to compare to grassroots initiatives.
Analysis of Post Mortem Human Muscle Proteome via Gel Electrophoresis
- Hailey HughesBiochemistryUndergraduate Student
- Paige HannemannBiochemistryStaff
- Georgia SackBiochemistryStaff
- Kim WhiteBiochemistryFaculty
The changes in proteome human muscle tissue were analyzed using protein extraction and quantification techniques, SDS-PAGE, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Muscle tissue samples were collected at defined postmortem intervals from a single body at the Forensic Investigation Research Station (FIRS) in Grand Junction, CO. These techniques were used to identify decomposition products of the rectus femoris muscle proteins that occur post mortem. The ultimate goal of this research is to correlate protein decomposition product masses (via mass spectrometry analysis) to distinctive postmortem intervals measured in accumulated degree days (ADD).
Analysis of Protein Nanodisc Assembly Methods
- William CastilloChemistryUndergraduate Student
- Madelyne GreenChemistryUndergraduate Student
Nanodics which are nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) can be assembled in order to solubilize and study membrane proteins in a water soluble discoidal particle.. Here, NLPs were assembled using two techniques: dialysis & biobead adsorption. These methods differ in the removal of a detergent called cholate. The Biobead method is much faster, but is relatively untested, whereas the dialysis method is in current use, but is fairly time consuming. By demonstrating the effectiveness of both techniques for nanodisc assembly, solubilization of membrane proteins can be optimized. This will ultimately be helpful in studying ASR, a retinal containing membrane protein for Anabaena (Now Nostoc) PCC 7120.
Analysis of Soil pH in Relation to Decomposition
- Erika EbelAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
- Alyssa HaggardAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
- Kiaya Charlton-GrantAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
- Casey HegelAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
This research attempts to observe the effects organic decomposition has on the soil pH and aims to determine if pH levels are altered when remains are frozen opposed to unfrozen. Weekly qualitative observations and soil tests were conducted on six naturally decomposing swine limbs. We hypothesized that there would be a slight delay in the cycling of pH levels for frozen remains.Three frozen and three control limbs were deposited atop of undisturbed soil and observed for five consecutive weeks at the Simulated Archaeology Site at HSU. This research intends to address the correlation between pH levels and decomposition, which can be beneficial for future taphonomic research.
Analysis of Trace Metals in Seawater using Pre-Concentration Techniques and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
- Jeremiah HaysChemistryUndergraduate Student
- Kezia RasmussenOceanographyUndergraduate Student
- Claire TillChemistryFaculty
Many trace metals are essential micronutrients for phytoplankton, and despite their low concentrations in seawater, trace metals can have large impacts on biological processes. Also due to their low concentrations, the measurement of trace metal concentrations requires precise analytical techniques. One common method utilizes expensive instrumentation that we do not have at HSU. In this research project, we adapted published methods to use the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, an instrument in the HSU Chemistry Department. Results show successful adaptation of the method for zinc and manganese. Current work streamlines the method to allow for 8-fold faster sample preparation.
Analytical comparisons of American-European High School Life Science Education Systems and Methodology to Increase effective teaching and Intercultural Competence
- Juita Martinez, Juan Lupian, Anne O'SheaEducation & BiologyUndergraduate Student
In collaboration with HSU's P.E.E.R.S program and Lausanne, Swizterland's HEP school of education. Three HSU students collaborated with three Swiss students in order to create a lesson for highschool aged students from scratch as well as teach the lesson in in the United States and Switzerland. Our goal was to increase learning retention of the subject through research of effective methods and pedagogical strategies which we then utilize to regularly change and improve our lesson. Another goal included intercultural awareness and creating relevance for the students in a collaborative way with our peers that would translate into the individual classrooms in relation to the specific class.
Analyzing Bloodstain Patterns using Animals’ Blood Versus Synthetic Alternatives
- Taylor ErnestAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
- Claudia AlvaradoAnthropologyUndergraduate Student
Passive stains, transfer stains and projected/impact stains will be created with various tools and tested on multiple surfaces including: cotton, linen, and carpets. The components of the Bovine blood versus stage blood will be used for analysis and comparison. This research will help determine if synthetic blood provides an accurate representation for bloodstain pattern analysis in research. After all experimental work and calculations are complete, statistical analysis will be conducted to determine the statistical validity of using synthetic blood alternatives to analyze bloodstain patterns.
Analyzing Landslide Susceptibility in Monterey County, California Using MaxEnt
- Robert BeckerEnviornmental Science and ManagmentUndergraduate Student
- David GwenziEnviornmental Science and ManagmentFaculty
Landslides are a destructive geological process that can destroy infrastructure, homes, and cause human fatalities. Over recent years there have been many damaging landslides along the California coast. Analyzing areas of high landslide risk potential can allow for preventative measures before the economic hardship of a massive repair or worst case scenario loss of life. This study aims to address the need of accurate predictive maps of landslide vulnerability in the Monterey County, CA. Weight of evidence based on prior landslides and selected triggering factors will be modeled within the MaxEnt software package to create landslide susceptibility maps.
Analyzing Resistance in Carbon Nanotube Networks
- Tanner HoovenPhysicsUndergraduate Student
- Joshua MaldanadoPhysicsUndergraduate Student
- Gynell HigbyPhysicsUndergraduate Student
- Benjamin KafinPhysics & ChemistryUndergraduate Student
- Carla QuinteroPhysicsGraduate Student
- Ruth SaundersPhysicsFaculty
To inform the applicability of carbon nanotube networks for use as field-effect transistors or as biosensors, we have run computer simulations in order to characterize the electrical properties of these networks, and specifically, how the resistance of these networks changes with the metallicity, or the percentage of metallic to semiconducting carbon nanotubes. When running simulations over networks with varying metallicities, we find a trend where the resistance increases to a peak value then decreases.