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Presenters & Abstracts: 2022
Redtail Surfperch Population Dynamics in Humboldt County
- Jonathan KangWildlifeUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Redtail surfperch population dynamics when comparing urban and remote beaches in Humboldt County.
Reducing polyamine levels favors osteogenic differentiation of MSCs
- David MoralesChemistryUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Snyder-Robinson Syndrome (SRS) is a disorder that is characterized by severe osteoporosis. SRS is caused by a mutated gene coding for Spermine Synthase (SMS). SMS converts spermidine into spermine. Therefore SRS patients show increased spermidine/spermine ratios. Using bone marrow-derived Multipotent Stromal Cells, we found that supplementation with spermidine inhibits differentiation. During osteogenic differentiation the polyamine catabolic enzyme Spermidine/Spermine Acetyltransferase (SAT1) is upregulated. Also, inhibition of polyamine synthesis directly promotes osteogenesis. Therefore our results in vitro suggest that reduction of polyamines is necessary for osteogenic differentiation.
Resources vs Co2 on Humboldt Bees’
- Alli ChevalierWildlifeUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
The effects of urbanization and Co2 car emmissons on local bee abundance and species richness. Testing to see what drives bee populations and if there is a negative correlation between Co2 levels and bees' in urban, agricultural, and natural settings and which areas provide the most abundant resources.
REUSE- REDUCE-REMOVE
- Cassandra Avila-EstradaGeography Environmental Spatial AnalysisUndergraduate Student
- Dulce K. VallejoGeography Environmental Spatial AnalysisUndergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
Buying a new water bottle seems easier for some, but harder for our planet. The use of plastic is a global issue and should be concerning. We partnered up with Zero Waste Humboldt (ZWH), a nonprofit organization, to assist in their Refill-not-Landfill Network Project, which is a project that has saved over 100,000 water bottles from the landfill. We assisted in this project by updating their website with an updated map of the 10 water refilling stations that were donated by them through a federal grant. We are presenting at IdeaFest so community members can gain an awareness and interest in being conscious about waste production and mindful about single-use plastic bottles.
Sacred Drugs
- Sam SchulmanCommunicationsUndergraduate Student
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
This Ideafest presentation aims to argue that our society might be studying drugs wrong. I will explore this topic using a problem/solution model. The problem is that drugs are stigmatized, causing a reluctance to talk openly about their role within society. I suggest the validation of drugs through pragmatic discussions within all appropriate avenues of study. Gary Laderman and Michael Pollan prove ideal examples of this solution. Quotes from Laderman highlight the integration of drugs in religion courses and academia at large. Michael Pollan is another example, and exploring his work presents another case of the topic of drugs being discussed in academic and such public settings.
Salinity influence in feeding of dabbling and diving ducks
- Cesar RochaWildlifeUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
Tested to see if salinity levels in water had an affect on feeding in water fowl. Looking at dabbling and diving ducks, I saw which one exhibited most feeding. Species studied were Buffleheads as diving ducks(Bucephala albeola) and Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) as dabbling ducks.
Shorebird Abundance in Response to Human Disturbance within Protected and Non-protected Beaches
- Alissa LachanceWildlifeUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
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.
Skeletal Muscle Induced, BDNF-Mediated Secretions Retrogradely Initiates Pro-Neuroplastic Signaling Cascade That Increases Cognitive Function in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Julie DalmolenKinesiologyGraduate Student
Other
Autism is a neurological condition that impairs cognitive function(CF). Changes to the CNS and diminished neuro physiologic pathways could contribute to the pathology of autism and the decreased responsiveness of neuronal networking and neurotransmitter release. Growth factors are important in regulating neuronal function. This study investigates exercise as an effective therapy for improving CF in autism. We hypothesize that the contraction of skeletal muscle during moderate intensity exercise will upregulate BDNF into a cascade of cellular events that enhance neuroplasticity. The study will involve a 6-week exercise intervention with bio fluid analysis to measure BDNF and changes in CF.
Song dialect recognition in White-crowned Sparrows
- Nathan ChavezWildlife DepartmentUndergraduate Student
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
White-crowned sparrows have different dialects in their songs depending on the region. This project was done to determine if sparrows local to Humboldt County are capable of recognizing dialects from different regions throughout the U.S.
Spatial and Temporal Variations of Microplastics within Humboldt Bay
- Isabelle MarcusOceanographyUndergraduate Student
- Bennett HosselkusOceanographyUndergraduate Student
- Cole HutsonOceanographyUndergraduate Student
- Michael JacobsOceanographyUndergraduate Student
- Connor McNeilOceanography
- Stephanie OlivarezOceanographyUndergraduate Student
- Leah NewtonOceanographyUndergraduate Student
- Rebecca ThompsonOceanographyUndergraduate Student
- Tamara Beitzel BarriquandOceanographyFaculty
- Jeffrey AbellOceanographyFaculty
College of Natural Resources & Sciences
This study was conducted by the students of OCN496 in the fall of 2020. The goal of this study was to quantify the amount of microplastics in Humboldt Bay by observing its sediment and water column at specific locations during the tidal cycle. Additionally, we wanted to observe how tidal fluctuations impact the concentration and transport of microplastics in the water column.