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Presenters & Abstracts: College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Search for possible trends between quasar outflows and radio properties
- Sean HaasPhysicsUndergraduate Student
- Brandon DolfiPhysicsUndergraduate Student
- Chrystal JohnsonMathematicsUndergraduate Student
- Carla QuinteroPhysicsUndergraduate Student
- Paola Rodriguez HidalgoPhysicsFaculty
Quasars are supermassive black holes that, through accretion, emit large amounts of radiation and eject large amounts of matter. Spectral emissions from quasars have proven to be highly variable, that is, quasar spectra change dramatically over time. The physical mechanism behind this variability in the accretion disk is not yet completely understood. High velocity outflows of matter have been observed in many quasars and could serve as a mechanism for changing the radiating matter in the accretion disk around the black hole, thus changing the quasar's spectra. Our team has analyzed quasar spectra to search for possible trends between radio properties and outflows.
Searching for Trends in Atmospheric Compositional of Extrasolar Planets
- Kassandra WeberPhysics and AstronomyUndergraduate Student
- Adam TurkPhysics and AstronomyUndergraduate Student
- Paola Rodriguez HidalgoPhysics and AstronomyFaculty
- Stephen KaneAstrophysicsFaculty
- Troy MaloneyPhysics and AstronomyGraduate Student
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in planets outside of our solar system, also known as exoplanets. Our research involves looking for trends in these planets’ potential habitability, through archival information about the planet’s radius, its distance from its parent star, and its atmospheric composition. The latter is obtained using transmission spectroscopy, which shows absorption on different regions of the planet’s spectrum depending on the composition of the atmosphere. We are working in collaboration with Dr. Stephen Kane, the creator of the Habitable Zone Gallery, to include the spectroscopic information in this database, which will allow the community to access it.
Seasonal Change in Foraging Behavior of Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
Elena Adams, Wildlife Undergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & SciencesThis study aimed to measure the proportion of time that long-billed curlews (Numenius americanus) were actively feeding, preening, roosting, walking, flying, or defending their territory. I hypothesized that the proportion of time that curlews were actively feeding would increase as they prepared for migration. Surveys were conducted along Humboldt Bay’s Elk River to determine if the proportion of time curlews were observed feeding increased from February to April 2023. Understanding foraging response is critical to understand the importance of winter habitats for this species.
Sedimentation Risk Assessment in the Lagoa Feia Lake Basin in Brazil using Satellite and Geospatial Data
- Ualas Barreto RohrerEnvironmental Science and ManagementUndergraduate Student
- Buddhika MadurapperumaFaculty
Lagoa Feia Lake Basin is located in Rio de Janeiro-Brazil, which historically experienced sedimentation impacts due to channel ditching to manage water resources for agricultural practices. This study models the significance of sedimentation in the lake basin intergraded with land-use, soil types, and DEM data using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques. The erosion model was built using the above input variables by applying weighted overlay methods, and the vulnerable areas were mapped. Landsat 8 images were utilized for remote sensing analysis, such as image enhancement indices to detect sedimentation changes over time. The results of the study are useful to implement best management practices
Selection Effects on Diversity and Specific Ecosystem Functions in Pitcher Plant Associated Bacteria
- Jose Alejandro BravoBiologyUndergraduate Student
The purpose of the research was to determine if a relationship exists between biodiversity and specific functions. Specifically, if individual organism function influences the broad function of the ecosystem. To test this, a model system was devised using fluid collected from Darlingtonia californica, chosen for having a bacterial ecosystem with the observable broad function of insect degradation. A dilution series was used to modify the biodiversity of this system, expected to alter specific organism function, and by extension influence the broad function of the system. Initial results of the experiment indicated that broad function increased as individual specific functions decreased.
Self-Determination Theory and Intellectual Disability
Jacquelyn Matthews, School of Applied Health Graduate Student
College of Natural Resources & SciencesThe purpose of this study was to increase physical fitness skills within adult populations with intellectual disabilities in the areas of walking, push-ups, curl-ups through a self-determination model. This was achieved through collaborative engagements with graduate-level students. Within this collaboration participants chose exercise goals and success criteria. An exercise program was established to increase participant skills over five sessions and teach participants how to be independent in their physical fitness endeavors and environments. The goal was to determine if experiences within this study would lead to increased skill level surrounding physical fitness through SDT.
Shorebird Abundance in Response to Human Disturbance within Protected and Non-protected Beaches
- Alissa LachanceWildlifeUndergraduate Student
My study focused on shorebird abundance in response to human disturbance within beaches that are protected or non protected by the county in Humboldt County, California.
Short and Long Term Effects of Antibiotic Treatment on Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Proliferation of HEK293 Cells
Rhiannon Red Bird, Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student
- NateKrauseBiological SciencesUndergraduate Student
Antibiotics are commonly used in modern-day cell culture to prevent the loss of valuable data and cells- useful for protecting valuable cells during long-term studies. Cells are cultured in nutrient rich media, causing rapid proliferation of unwanted contaminants (i.e. viruses/ bacteria). We know that short term treatment negatively affects cell differentiation, proliferation, regulation and metabolism- yet, are still commonly used in cell culture. In this study, we cross-examined the effects of short term antibiotic treatments (96 hours) and long term antibiotic treatments (192 hours) on human embryonic kidney cell proliferation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and protein expression.
Silicon Photomultiplier Characterization
- Leonel MunozPhysicsUndergraduate Student
Silicon Photo Multiples (SiPM's) are relatively new photon detectors. They offer many advantages compared to photo multiplier tubes (PMT's) such as insensitivity to magnetic field, robustness at varying lighting levels, and low cost. The SiPM output wave forms are poorly understood. The experiment conducted collected waveforms of responses of Hamamatsu SiPM to incident laser pulse at varying temperatures and bias voltages. Ambient noise was characterized at all temperatures and bias voltages by averaging the waveforms. Pulse shape of the SiPM response was determined under different operating conditions
SINKING MICROFIBERS ON THE NEW ENGLAND CONTINENTAL SHELF BREAK
- Jennie WarmackOceanographyUndergraduate Student
In June 2016, the water column abundance and vertical flux profile of microfibers was examined using Niskin bottle collection and a vertical array of surface-tethered sediment traps at the continental shelf break south of Rhode Island. Fibers were extracted and analyzed on a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer to determine the type of materials present. Sinking rates of the fibers were estimated through three independent approaches: theoretical, field-based, and lab-based. In general, the field-based approach indicated roughly 8x slower sinking speeds than those observed in the lab or predicted by theory.