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Optimization Of Downy Mildew Management And Baby Kale Production On The Central Coast Of California, Emily M. Locke-Paddon

Master's Theses

Baby kale (Brassica oleracea and other species) is a vital commodity as a salad green in spring mix and is widely produced on the Central Coast of California. Downy mildew, caused by Hyaloperonospora brassicae, is a devastating disease infecting economically important crops like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, horseradish, rapeseed, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, and kale. This foliar disease causes plant tissue to exhibit chlorotic and necrotic flecking and gray-white sporulation, affecting both the yield and quality of the crop and rendering the affected leaves unmarketable. The Central Coast’s cool climate and nighttime moisture, combined with dense plantings and sprinkler irrigation, …

Using Hydrologic And Hydraulic Simulations To Predict Near-Term Effects Of Beaver Habitat Restoration On Flood Flows, Luke S. Stewart

Master's Theses

There is a growing need to predict the complex hydrologic and hydraulic effects of beaver-maintained wetlands. This study uses relatively simple inputs and a replicable methodology to predict flood flow impacts of beaver habitat restoration at the site design scale using the engineering industry’s customary hydrology and hydraulic modeling approach. This study focuses on Toro Creek, the primary drainage for a 15.2 square mile watershed on the California Central Coast.

A hydrologic model of Toro Creek watershed was developed in HEC-HMS to approximate saturated soil conditions typical of late-spring flooding events observed in the region. The hydrologic model was calibrated …

Vertical And Latitudinal Variability Of Marine Heatwaves In The California Current, Gavin M. Plume

Master's Theses

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are increasing in frequency and intensity globally, with grave effects on marine ecosystems and their dependent industries. There are significant gaps in knowledge of the subsurface behavior and geographic distribution of MHWs, especially in eastern boundary upwelling systems like the California Current. Here, two decades of full water-column temperature observations from a shallow autonomous profiler in San Luis Obispo Bay (~10m) revealed that while MHWs have similar average durations and intensities across all depths, one-third of bottom MHWs occur without a concurrent surface signal. MHWs across the water column initiated during anomalously weak upwelling or downwelling conditions …

The Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga Angustirostris) Of The Piedras Blancas Colony: A Story Of Recolonization, Monitoring And Movement, Mackenzie Davidson

Master's Theses

Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are large, ocean migrating carnivores that have a wide distribution along the west coast of North America. Like other pinniped species, northern elephant seals spend considerable time out at sea foraging and return to land to molt and breed. Northern elephant seals were hunted to near extinction in the late 1800s. Due to conservation efforts they have since rebounded, and they currently occupy 27 known terrestrial breeding colonies. Much literature has documented the recolonization, population dynamics, and dispersion of this species. Currently, Piedras Blancas (San Simeon, California) is the largest mainland breeding colony of northern …

Identifying Interchromosomal Interactions Using A Graph-Based Computational Pipeline, Ethan Outangoun

Master's Theses

Current computational tools for analyzing chromatin organization are mainly focused on intrachromosomal interactions, despite growing evidence that suggests long-range interactions across chromosomes contribute to transcriptional regulation and disease development. This thesis aims to address this gap in interchromosomal genome analysis, presenting a robust computational pipeline that identifies a clique (i.e., a subgraph) of highly interacting trans-chromosomal regions anchored at a user-specified seed genomic locus. A weighted interaction network is constructed from an input Hi-C contact matrix, a widely used experimental assay for measuring genome-wide chromatin interactions. We model this input contact matrix as a graph and devise three different strategies …

Myceli-Yum: Elucidating Structure-Property Relationships For Polymer Degradation By Mycelial Digestion, Jordan Scott Ford

Master's Theses

Since the industrial entrance of polymer plastic materials, plastic has become ubiquitous in both everyday use and waste. Due to inefficiencies and knowledge gaps, current recycling methods are not able to account for the high scale of plastic waste, resulting in the bulk of this waste being landfilled, mishandled, and deposited in the environment. Mycelium, the microorganism responsible for fruiting mushroom bodies and mold growth, holds potential to reduce plastic waste and can potentially be utilized as a method of industrial recycling. Following a drug-design approach, the active site of mycelial enzymes responsible for natural biopolymer degradation have been assessed …

The Effect Of Whole Fruits High In Anthocyanins On Markers Of Glycemic Control In Women, Sophia C. Johnson

Master's Theses

Cardiometabolic diseases are a significant health burden worldwide and remain the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a central component of cardiometabolic dysfunction and substantially increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. As women enter the post-menopausal period, significant declines in estrogen levels lead to a heightened risk of T2DM in this population. Observational and experimental evidence has shown potential for fruits high in anthocyanins (ACs) to reduce the risk of T2DM and improve glycemic control. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the current research on whole fruits high in ACs …

The Chumash War Of 1824: Revolution And Counterrevolution In The California Missions Santa Inés, Santa Barbara, And La Purísima, Joseph V. Payne

Master's Theses

In 1824, the Indigenous Chumash of Missions Santa Inés, Santa Barbara, and La Purísima de Concepción went to war against the settler-colonial system that bonded them to the mission lands and forced labor regime demanded by the Spanish Franciscan missionaries and compelled by Mexican military force in Alta California. The conflict lasted months and included violent battles and skirmishes at all three missions, the militant occupation and reclamation of La Purísima, a mass exodus to the interior of the territory, and the subsequent counterrevolutionary collaboration of the Spanish missionaries and Mexican military to return many (but not all) of the …

Subalpine And Alpine Plant Community Turnover In Yosemite National Park Following 30 Years Of Climate Warming, Rachel Friesen

Master's Theses

Subalpine and alpine regions in California are warming more rapidly than lower elevations. In response, high-elevation plants may acclimate or adapt to the new climate, move to higher elevations or latitudes, persist in refugia, or go extinct. While models predict substantial declines in subalpine and alpine plant communities due to discontinuous population distributions and lack of upslope area, actual responses may vary due to lags in dispersal, establishment, and extinction. Although shifts in high-elevation plant communities have been documented in other regions of the world, such changes have not yet been studied in Yosemite National Park. To assess high-elevation plant …

Development Of A Novel Bio-Mimetic Ornithopter With Variable Flapping Angle, Geourg Kivijian

Master's Theses

From the beginnings of flight, flapping-winged flight has been a goal of many engineers to mimic and replicate. With gains in aerodynamic efficiency of flight and certain other favorable characteristics such as reduced noise, higher maneuverability, and surveillance opportunities in urban environments, flapping-wing aerial vehicle(FWAV) designs are consistently pursued in many corners of academia and industry. This thesis goes into the development of a flapping wing aerial vehicle with a Bio-mimetic novel drive mechanism that is cable-driven and can produce variable amplitude and frequency flapping stroke. Employing a Field-Oriented Control (FOC) Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motor, paired with a bio-mimetic …

Evaluating Nanobubble-Enriched Water Treatments For Cleaning Stainless Steel Winery Tanks At The Gallo Winery Research Station In Livingston, California, Edgar Godoy-Garcia

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Evaluating nanobubble-enriched water treatments for cleaning stainless steel winery tanks at the Gallo winery research station in Livingston, California.

Edgar A. Godoy-Garcia

Sanitation of stainless steel wine storage tanks is a critical component of quality control in commercial winemaking operations. Ineffective cleaning can lead to microbial contamination, product spoilage, and safety concerns. Traditionally, wineries rely on manual scrubbing, chemical cleaning agents, and extensive water rinsing cycles to maintain sanitary tank conditions. However, these methods are resource-intensive and may pose risks to both workers and the environment due to chemical exposure and wastewater generation. In response to growing industry interest …

Density-Dependent Habitat Selection And Home Range Sizes In A Recovering Population Of Island Foxes (Urocyon Littoralis) On Santa Rosa Island, California, Kathleen B. Elder

Master's Theses

Understanding factors that affect how animals select their home ranges is critical for proper species management, especially for threatened and endemic species. Density-dependent factors can be particularly difficult to understand because studying them requires large fluctuations in population size. The island fox (Urocyon littoralis), endemic to the California Channel Islands, has experienced dramatic fluctuations in population size making it an excellent candidate for studying the effects of density on home range size and habitat selection. In 2009, researchers on Santa Rosa Island took advantage of this “natural experiment” to document fox home ranges and habitat selection at a …

From Conflict To Clarity: Resolving Differences In Habitat Assessments To Inform Conservation Priorities For The Giant Kangaroo Rat, Caroline Mackenzie

Master's Theses

From Conflict to Clarity: Resolving Data Differences in Habitat Assessments to Inform Conservation Priorities for the Giant Kangaroo Rat

Caroline MacKenzie

Conservation strategies frequently rely on habitat suitability models, habitat assessments and species occurrence data to identify areas for protection. However, these methods often produce conflicting inference on species presence and habitat quality, complicating management decisions. This study builds on prior work which used three distinct methods to guide conservation planning for the endangered Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ingens): habitat suitability modeling based on abiotic predictors, aerial imagery to assess habitat quality through visible burrow mounds and live-trapping …

The Effect Of Dietary Strawberry Supplementation On Glycemic Control Factors In Overweight And Obese Postmenopausal Women With At-Risk Diabetes Mellitus Pathogenesis, Jennifer Herrera

Master's Theses

Glycemic control is directly related to type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As of 2023, 30.5 million Americans have T2DM, and this number only continues to increase exponentially across the world (“Facts & Figures,” n.d.). T2DM is only a precursor to fatal conditions including cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death in the United States. Extensive research has revealed that strawberries, a high polyphenolic food, may pose positive effects on glycemic control biomarkers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of three servings of strawberries in the form of 39-g of freeze-dried strawberry powder (FDSP) for six weeks on glycemic …

The Relationships Among Orthorexia Nervosa, Perfectionist Tendencies And Academic Achievement In Nutrition And Dietetics Students, Sophia Grace Owens

Master's Theses

Eating disorders can cause a disturbance in how the health of food is viewed (Cerniglia et al., 2017). If a person has disturbances in their eating behaviors that can cause harm to their health, but the behaviors do not fit into the criteria of a specific eating disorder, they fall into the category of a disordered eating pattern (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2018). Because of the stress the college environment can cause students, some college students may cling to anything they can control, which may be reflected in their dietary habits. Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), a disordered eating pattern, is …

The Impact Of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Antagonist On Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells, Jeanne Michelle Dugas

Master's Theses

Obesity is a condition that affects over 40% of American adults and contributes to numerous preventable health issues. This condition is caused by increased adipose tissue, which forms when stem cells transform into adipocytes. Mesenchymal stem cells, including human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC), are multipotent with the ability to differentiate into adipocytes, osteocytes, or chondrocytes. Many factors affect this transformation, including the peptide growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). The main role of GHRH is to trigger the release of growth hormone, but it has also been found to play an important role in adipocyte metabolism. We expect that if the differentiation …

The Antioxidant Potential Of Rosemary Leaf-Derived Nanovesicles, Shani Akila Griffin

Master's Theses

Human dermal fibroblasts are essential for maintaining skin homeostasis. However, exposure to exogenous and endogenous stressors can lead to fibroblast instability, extracellular matrix degradation, and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These factors contribute to skin aging and ROS-induced skin disorders leading to hair loss. Adverse effects from synthetic treatments have driven interest in natural alternatives like plant extracts for skin therapy. However, the polyphenols in these treatments require an effective delivery system to ensure their stability and targeted application. Plant derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) are emerging as a promising natural alternative for therapeutic applications. Their biocompatibility, stability, and encapsulated compounds …

Pollinator Plant Communities Within Restored Montane Longleaf Pine Ecosystems, Hanen Van Rossem

Master's Theses

Historically the fire-dependent and biodiverse longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystem was the dominant ecosystem of the Southeastern US. This ecosystem’s range was massively reduced due to land conversion and fire exclusion, causing the decline of many native species. Efforts to restore and protect longleaf pine stands are now ongoing with the goal of expanding habitat and refuge for threatened species. Differences in restoration practices and prior land use may influence the extent to which restored habitat patches can support pollinators and their plants. This study compared pollinator plant biodiversity between restored neighboring montane longleaf pine stands that differed in …

The Algorithm Of Inclusion: Homonationalism, Queer Advocacy, And Digital Marketing Of Un Ecosoc Ingos And Indian Ngos, Dewansh Chauhan

Master's Theses

Advocacy organizations have increasingly turned to social media as digital platforms become integral to contemporary activism, shaping public discourse and securing institutional legitimacy. This thesis examines the organizational communication of organizations that support marginalized sexualities within a neoliberal and homonationalist context. Employing Critical Content Analysis (CCA), the study analyzes a representative sample of 200 Instagram posts from 2024, comparing two international NGOs with ECOSOC status at the UN (Outright International and ILGA) and two national NGOs in India (Humsafar Trust and Naz Foundation). The findings reveal how homonationalist tendencies may manifest at the intersection of engagement metrics, identity-centric rhetoric, brand …

#Strongertogether, Can Symbols Of Nationalism Be Transformed? A Case Study Of The Springboks: South Africa’S National Rugby Team, Selorm Djameh

Master's Theses

This study examines whether symbols, particularly those associated with nationalism, can undergo transformation in meaning and be co-opted to represent ideas or values contrary to their original intent. To explore this question, the study employs the case of the Springbok emblem, a symbol historically linked to the South African national rugby team. Originally, the Springbok was closely associated with the apartheid regime, embodying Afrikaner nationalism, exceptionalism, and, by extension, White supremacy. However, in the post-apartheid era, there have been growing efforts to reimagine the Springbok symbol by promoting greater inclusivity within the national rugby team. These efforts aim to transform …

Identification Of Methylation Patterns, Associated Dna Methylating Proteins, And Methyltransferase Inhibitors On The Promoter Regions Of Dax-1, Brandon Tyler Toy

Master's Theses

The DAX-1 gene (Dosage-Sensitive Sex Reversal, Adrenal Hypoplasia Congenita, Critical Region on the X chromosome, gene 1) encodes for an orphan nuclear hormone receptor and its mutation is implicated in multiple diseases including congenital adrenal hypoplasia, adrenal cancer, and breast cancer. Previous research has linked DAX-1 downregulation to tumor initiation in breast tissue, suggesting the gene acts as a tumor suppressor with respect to breast cancer. Additional studies completed by the Tzagarakis-Foster laboratory have shown that methylation of the DAX-1 promoter region is heavily influential in breast cancer development, with release of epigenetic repression resulting in slowing of cellular proliferation …

An Analysis Of The Armorettes’ Mission To Help The Atlanta Lgbtq+ Community, Edwin Hernandez

Master's Theses

The Armorettes are a self-proclaimed camp drag troupe that have been performing in the Atlanta drag scene since 1979. First formed as a cheer group for a softball team associated with The Armory, a well known gay bar at the time, they quickly added drag performance and charity work to their name. The group came to be as the HIV/AIDS epidemic began affecting Atlanta. Atlanta was hit hard by the disease. Several comorbid factors contributed to the disproportionate numbers seen in the city beginning in the 1980s. They quickly took on the mission of raising money for charities and organizations …

Cartoon Kinship, Kelsey Bell Quinn

Master's Theses

Most people view cartoons as mindless entertainment exclusively for children. They dismiss the genre as if it only contains zany and overzealous characters who deal with simple, predictable challenges, easily resolved by the end of the episode. The negative attitude towards cartoons—or seemingly anything animated—undermines the importance of the lessons and the themes many shows do impart on their viewers, regardless of their age. Shows like Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender cover a plethora of complex themes, but due to its status as an animated work, it has been disregarded as a show for children rather than being appreciated as …

Feral And Free: The Queering Of Motherhood In Rachel Yoder’S Nightbitch, Cassandra Haskell

Master's Theses

This thesis explores motherhood from a perspective that seeks to inform and challenge the patriarchal definitions of motherhood in order to simultaneously confront its restrictions and create new meanings from its institutionalized definition. The main text that this thesis analyzes is the 2021 novel Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder, as well as the 2024 film of the same name, critiquing how it successfully queers motherhood by questioning, challenging, and defying the impractical expectations placed upon mothers by society. Some secondary scholars whose works that I utilize to support my argument are authors such as Audre Lorde, Jessica Calarco, Adrienne Rich and …

Optimizing Growth Conditions Of Chlorella Algae For Enhanced Biomass And Oxygen Production, Supreme Ogheneovo Oghenerhoro

Master's Theses

Increasing Earth's carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels contribute immensely to global warming. At the same time, future Mars colonization requires innovative systems for oxygen production. This study explores how Chlorella algae can help control environmental challenges on Earth, support life on Mars, and produce biomass as an alternative to renewable energy. Chlorella is known for its high photosynthetic efficiency in capturing CO2 for growth, producing O2 and biomass used for biofuel production. It was studied under varying CO₂ concentrations and pressure conditions. Each experiment was performed using a photobioreactor setup and optimized algae growth conditions. These were assessed to understand its …

Impacts Of Temperature Acclimation On Swimming Performance And Metabolic Dynamics Of The Amargosa River Pupfish, Cyprinodon Nevadensis Amargosae, Teresa E. Guerre

Master's Theses

Climate change is leading to warmer atmospheric temperatures in many regions of the world, which in turn is raising the temperatures of aquatic habitats and simultaneously shifting the frequency and severity of extreme precipitation events. In fishes, metabolic demands are higher under warmer conditions, while dissolved oxygen levels typically decline in warmer water. This mismatch may limit the ability of fishes to cope with high water flow events like floods that can occur following extreme rainfall. A few species of pupfishes (genus Cyprinodon) in the Death Valley region of California and Nevada, USA, occupy stream or river habitats with …

Extraction Of Bioethanol From Seaweed Via Hydrolysis And Fermentation Using Mass-Produced Enzymes And Yeast, Timilehin Esther Oluwole

Master's Theses

The increasing global energy demand, depletion of fossil fuel reserves, and environmental concerns have driven the search for sustainable biofuel alternatives. Seaweeds (macroalgae) are promising feedstocks for bioethanol production due to their high carbohydrate content, rapid growth rates, lack of lignin, and non-competition with arable land. This study investigates the bioethanol production potential of three seaweed species, Codium fragile, Monostroma grevillei, and Fucus distichus, using enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation via Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation (SHF) and Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) processes. Hydrolysis was catalyzed using either α-Amylase or Celluclast 1.5L, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was employed for fermentation. Out of …

Evaluating Cannabigerol As A Therapeutic Agent In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Michael J. Viereckl

Master's Theses

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a prolific disease worldwide, with rising incidence and limited treatment options. The disease is progressive, what begins as simple lipid congestion within the cells of the liver eventually leads to incitement of inflammatory reactions and destruction of the liver which can further develop into cancer. Epidemiological data suggests that Cannabis use is associated with reduced incidence of NAFLD, and relatively recent changes in the plants legal status now affords us with the opportunity to investigate unstudied cannabinoids in the context of NAFLD. Further, growing popularity of these bioactive compounds as supplements warrants investigation into …

The Adirondack Frontier: Reclaiming A Vital Role In Shaping The Nation, Peter Nelson

Master's Theses

The traditional version of Adirondack history from the revolutionary period to the middle of the nineteenth century, which portrays the region as unexplored primeval wilderness, is nineteenth-century romantic mythology. It ignores thousands of years of Indigenous habitation and misrepresents early Euro-American activity in the region as well. In fact, from the earliest days of colonial exploration of North America until the middle of the 19th-Century, New York's Adirondack region was a dynamic American frontier, as important in shaping the destiny of the nation as the Northwest Territory or, later, the West. Activities in the Adirondack frontier contributed to the decimation …

Impact Of Temperature And Microbial Infection On The Honey Bee Hemocytes, Michael E. Oeth

Master's Theses

Introduction

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) rely on hemocytes for immunity, wound healing, and hemolymph homeostasis. While 32°C reflects optimal hive conditions, suboptimal temperatures (22°C) and stressors like pathogens (Varroa destructor, bacteria) or pesticides impair hemocyte function. Using clodronate liposomes (CLD) to deplete hemocytes, we assessed how immune suppression interacts with these stressors.

Methods

Newly emerged (5-day-old) and older (15-day-old) bees were assigned to: CLD, control liposomes (LP), PBS, injection wound, or no treatment. Cohorts were exposed to 32°C (optimal) or 22°C (stressful for non-immunosuppressed bees). Fifteen-day-old bees were challenged with Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus. Survival, hemolymph volume, and hemocyte …