Digital Commons Network^™

Scale And Habitat Effects On Measurement Of Streptomyces Biogeography And Biodiversity, Terilyn A. Stoflet

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Bacteria in the genus Streptomyces are detected in most soils around the world, as well as on and in seeds, plants, animals, insects and the wind. Currently, more than 700 valid species of Streptomyces have been identified worldwide. Streptomyces produce the majority of antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals, as well as important agricultural bioactive molecules due to their unique genetic capabilities. Their distinct genetic abilities allow them to produce an unlimited amount of biosynthetic gene clusters, or BGC’s. Although many compounds come from Streptomyces, scientists have not discovered the biogeographic patterns of this genus. The biogeography of Streptomyces is a …

Common Raven Resource Selection, Diet, And Behavior Around A Threatened Shorebird, Janelle Chojnacki

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Human food subsidies have allowed populations of the common raven (Corvus corax) to expand and increase in density, especially in the western United States, which has amplified predation risk for other native species. Common ravens are well-documented nest predators of the federally threatened Western snowy plover (Anarhynchus nivosus nivosus) in Humboldt County, California; however, little is known about raven movement and foraging behavior in and around snowy plover habitat. Using GPS tracking and behavioral surveys, I examined movement and foraging behavior of beach-going ravens across snowy plover nesting habitat and I explored raven diet through stable isotope …

Tetrodotoxin, Fungal Pathogen Infection, And Bacterial Microbiome Associations Are Variable In The Skin Microecosystems Of Two Taricha Newt Species, Talon B. Jost

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Chytridiomycosis is an amphibian disease linked to population declines and species extinctions, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). While chytridiomycosis can result in host death, some amphibians are less susceptible to severe infections through intrinsic factors including host-associated skin microbes aiding defense through resource competition and antifungal metabolite production. Amphibians can also release toxins in response to stress cues to defend against disease, parasitism, and predation. Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent low molecular weight neurotoxin found in genus Taricha, and despite a previously observed negative relationship between differential levels of TTX concentration and Bd infection presence within a …

Investigating The Relationships Between Biotic And Abiotic Factors Affecting Migratory Behavior In Westslope Cutthroat Trout Within The Priest River System, Kyle M. Keenan

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Numerous salmonid species demonstrate diverse life histories, encompassing both resident and migratory behaviors. Migratory life histories play a pivotal role in maintaining metapopulations for various reasons, facilitating genetic exchange between populations and yielding larger-sized females with increased fecundity relative to residents. This study took place in northern Idaho, within the lower Priest River system, which is highly susceptible to degrading habitat. Previous research has discovered this system as a significant contributor to migratory Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus lewisi, WCT) in the Lake Pend Oreille and Priest River systems. Expanding on these results, we compared four Priest River tributaries that produced …

Abductive Empiricism: The Significance Of Substance In Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary, Jordan Maloney

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

In a world of matter and meaning, philosophical debates revolve around metaphysical connections among entities. Alfred North Whitehead and Charles Peirce see interconnectedness in a continuous process of becoming, Karen Barad explores the constant creation of entities through intra-action, and Erwin Schrӧdinger quantifies the connection between the quantum and the macroscopic world. To add on to this discourse, I argue that ontological connections can be formed between any two static entities based on their shared quantitative data. It is pertinent to note that while this research draws inspiration from Whitehead, Peirce, and Barad, my approach differs significantly. In Whitehead and …

Dam Dimensions And Surface Porosity Affect The Water Storage Capacity Of Beaver Dam Analogs Compared To Natural Beaver Dams, Sawyer Nagle

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Widespread stream incision in the Western United States, exacerbated by climate change and anthropogenic activities, necessitates effective restoration strategies. My study compares water retention by Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) to natural beaver dams and undammed control reaches. I compared how dam dimensions affect the hydraulic performance of both BDAs and beaver dams, revealing gaps in research on their comparative effectiveness. My study was conducted across eight watersheds in Washington state and two in Idaho. Hydraulic retention time (HRT), water travel time, and pool volume were response variables used to determine dam effectiveness. Dam height, thickness, length and porosity were the …

Transitional Course For Incoming Transfer Students At Cal Poly Humboldt, Marissa Carla Holguin

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Universities and institutions have started to create student programming to ensure their students have the support that they need to be successful at their institutions. Many of these programs center and focus on the first-year student experience, which are those who are entering the institution right after graduating High School. These students are the traditional student population that studies and universities tend to focus on, however, other populations get overlooked. One “non-traditional” population that has increased in universities over the years is the transfer student population.

[aa1] Transfer students are students who, after high school graduation, have attended another institution, …

The Influence Of Anesthesia And Nicotine On Dopamine Signaling In The Rat Dorsal Striatum, Gracie E. Rosenbaum

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The striatum is highly innervated by dopamine neurons and is involved in movement control (dorsal striatum) reward learning (ventral striatum). Fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) is a technique that uses microelectrodes (diameter ~5 μm, length ~150 μm) to monitor dopamine signaling in the brain. Although urethane and isoflurane anesthetics are commonly used in in vivo studies, isoflurane’s potential influence on dopamine signaling has not been thoroughly investigated. In addition to this, the addictive nature of nicotine indicates the importance of understanding its impact of dopamine neurotransmission within the different striatal subregions. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus) 300 – 450 grams were …

The Effectiveness Of A Visual Activity Schedule In Aquatics On Skill Acquisition In Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Marcus J. Romero

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study investigates the effectiveness of a Visual Activity Schedule (VAS) on the acquisition of aquatic skills (floating, front glide, and breath control) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Due to the heightened risk of drowning among people with ASD, this research aims to determine if a VAS can enhance learning and safety in aquatic environments. The study utilizes a multiple baseline design across skills, involving two male participants aged 16 and 17 years old, both diagnosed with ASD. Baseline assessments were administered and followed by intervention phases where VAS was introduced. The dependent variables were the successful completion …

Analyzing Science Classroom Design Ideas Of High School Students: Variations Amongst Lgbt-Identifying Students, Abraham A. Lewis

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The physical design of science classrooms is a leading factor in determining the uses of the classroom and the comfort and engagement of students in the classroom, and if a science classroom is designed with only the majority of students or the average student in mind, the classroom design may have a negative impact on the comfort, engagement, and perceptions of minority groups of students, such as queer students. The purpose of this research is to identify how a science classroom’s design impacts the perceptions, engagement, and comfort of queer students, and to use student suggestions to identify science classroom …

Field And Laboratory Evaluation Of The Interactions Between Pesticides And The Gut Microbiome In Honey Bees (Apis Mellifera), Macee R. Mitchell

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators yet are threatened by a combination of factors such as poor nutrition, pathogens, parasites, and pesticide use. Bees encounter numerous pesticides while foraging (e.g. imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide) or in the hive colony (e.g. Tau-fluvalinate, a miticide commonly used to treat Varroa mite parasites). Similar to most organisms, the gut microbiome is important for bee health, metabolism, and behavior, however it is not well known how environmental factors like pesticides impact their gut bacterial symbionts. I hypothesized that 1) pesticide concentrations in bees are correlated with gut bacterial community structure, and 2) …

Bird Predation On Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus Kisutch) In Humboldt Bay, Colton J. Dixon

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) populations along the west coast of the United States are declining. In Humboldt County, located in northwestern California, Coho Salmon have been in decline since their federal listing as threatened in 1997, primarily due to habitat loss from logging, agriculture, and urban development. Although these anthropogenic factors caused salmon populations to decline, bird predation may also be hindering population recovery, as evidenced by the recovery of Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags, originally implanted in Coho Salmon, from bird colonies in Humboldt Bay. This study examines predation by Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), Caspian …

Simulated Effects Of Postpartum Depression On Maternal-Infant Bonding: Mediated By Reward-Related Responses To Infant Facial Cuteness, Caitlin Harp

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Infant cuteness (facial cuteness in particular) is linked to evolutionary adaptations to motivate caretaking and protective behaviors (Kringelbach et al., 2008). Previous neuroimaging work has demonstrated that infant cuteness activates reward-related regions in the brain (Glocker et al., 2009) and behavioral work suggests that the reward value of cuteness is linked to maternal tendencies (Hahn et al., 2015). It is estimated that 15% of new mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD) (Wisner et al., 2013), which impacts the mesolimbic system and is linked to anhedonia (i.e., reduced ability to experience pleasure). Based on the above literature, this study used a simulated …

Assessing Community Perspectives To Inform Kelp Forest Restoration And Management: The Case Of Mendocino Coast, California, Jocelyn Enevoldsen

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In coastal Mendocino County, California, a multi-year marine heatwave event kicked off a dramatic ecosystem transformation that led to a near-total loss of bull kelp forests. People who relied on the local kelp ecosystems were affected and facing decisions about how to respond to the kelp ecosystem transformation. Rigorous assessments that are inclusive of local perspectives, values, and preferences could inform efforts related to kelp forest ecosystem management, conservation, and restoration. My research focused on answering the following questions: (1) What are the ways that people are connected to kelp ecosystems on the Mendocino coast? (2) What are community members’ …

Interactions Between New Zealand Mud Snails (Potamopyrgus Antipodarum) And Toxic Cyanoabacteria (Anabaena) In Baduwa’T (Mad River), Humboldt County, California, Cecilia F. Kennelly

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Invasive species in freshwater systems are circulated around the globe, wreaking havoc on natural communities. The New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) is a very successful aquatic invader that has established populations in freshwater streams, lakes, and rivers around the globe. The goal of this project was to evaluate the interactions of invasive New Zealand mud snails (NZMS) and toxic cyanobacteria Anabaena in the Mad River in Humboldt County, California. These two species of concern are found in similar habitats along the river, but their whether NZMS consume Anabaena or affect toxin production is unknown. First, I conducted …

Barn Owls Exert Top-Down Effects On The Abundance And Behavior Of Rodent Pests, Katherine C. Larson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Predators can exert top-down effects on their prey by direct consumption, by imposing risk of predation, or a combination of both. However, empirical evidence for these effects is mixed and inconsistent. Barn owls in agriculture present a system with attributes that should, according to theory, lead to strong top-down effects, but research is limited and the distinction between effects on prey abundance and behavior remains unresolved. Understanding the top-down effect of predators on pests is a cornerstone of integrated pest management and important where barn owls may contribute to the control of rodents on farms. Vegetation can mediate the top-down …

Analyzing Stakeholder Perceptions On Biogas Production Incentives Under California’S Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Emily Read

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Accounting for more than half of California’s methane emissions, the dairy and livestock sector has become a central focus for the state’s emission reduction efforts. As a leader in climate policy, California’s approach to addressing agricultural methane emissions has the potential to shape the future of livestock agriculture on a national and global scale. The state has prioritized anaerobic digesters as the primary strategy for addressing livestock methane, a decision that has been both widely contested and strongly supported by stakeholders. This thesis investigates stakeholder perceptions on livestock biogas under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) using interview and survey …

Drought's Lingering Shadow: Monitoring The Recovery Of Sagebrush Steppe Plant Communities After Four Years Of Experimental Drought, Francisco Jesus Chavez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Droughts are projected to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change, which will significantly impact terrestrial ecosystems. However, the response magnitude will vary depending on a system's resistance and resilience to drought. Furthermore, drought may elicit different responses within the hierarchical levels of plant communities (i.e., individual, community, or ecosystem responses). These effects can extend beyond the drought's duration as legacies persist and influence previously disturbed systems. I assessed whether hierarchical responses occurred within two different adjacent sagebrush plant communities, dominated by Artemisia arbuscula and Artemisia cana, during and after an experimental drought. I used nondestructive point frame …

Infinite Queerness And American Settler Colonialism, Jeremiah A. Ho

All Faculty Scholarship

In Silent Covenants: Brown v. Board of Education and the Unfulfilled Hopes For Racial Reform, the late Derrick Bell refined his theory of racial progress in the United States by merging his interest convergence and racial sacrifice theses into a theoretical “two-sided coin” he called “racial fortuity.”¹  Bell’s original interest convergence thesis posited that racial progress for Blacks would only occur if their interests in obtaining equality for themselves and the interests of the dominant White establishment in granting such equality “converged.”²  This theory famously underpinned Bell’s interpretation of Brown and the Supreme Court’s eagerness to overturn …

Colonizing Queerness, Jeremiah A. Ho

All Faculty Scholarship

This Article investigates how and why the cultural script of inequality persists for queer identities despite major legal advancements such as marriage, anti-discrimination, and employment protections. By regarding LGBTQ legal advancements as part of the American settler colonial project, I conclude that such victories are not liberatory or empowering but are attempts at colonizing queer identities. American settler colonialism’s structural promotion of a normative sexuality illustrates how our settler colonialist legacy is not just a race project (as settler colonialism is most widely studied) but also a race-gender-sexuality project. Even in apparent strokes of progress, American settler colonialism’s eliminationist motives …

Examining The Drivers Of Nocturnal Behavior Of Pikas At Lower Elevations In Lassen National Forest, California, Evan Burnett

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a charismatic mammal species adapted to occupy rockslides and boulder fields in western North America. Historically monitored due to their climate sensitivity, pikas have experienced extirpations along their lower range margins—driven by chronic and acute temperature stress—prompting increased concern and monitoring over the risks posed by anthropogenic climate change. Traditionally considered an alpine species, pikas occupy a wide range of elevations, with those at lower elevations exhibiting higher rates of nocturnality than their counterparts at higher elevations. Temperature is hypothesized to be the driver, but this has yet to be confirmed. Pikas …

Diet, Growth, And Survival Of Juvenile Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus Kisutch) In Off-Channel Restoration Projects In Humboldt Bay Tributaries, Katherine Rose Stonecypher

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Anthropogenic degradation of off-channel floodplain habitats has contributed to widespread declines in Pacific salmonid populations. These habitats are critical to the survival and growth of juvenile Coho Salmon during their first year of life. Restoring connectivity between mainstem and floodplain habitats could provide juvenile salmonids access to a mosaic of heterogenous foraging opportunities, with important consequences for salmonid growth and survival. I analyzed the diet, growth, and survival of juvenile Coho Salmon rearing in three restored off-channel ponds and adjacent mainstem habitats in Humboldt Bay tributaries to evaluate project performance. Juvenile Coho Salmon diet composition was significantly different among sites …

Severe Degranulation Of Mesenteric Mast Cells In An Experimental Rat Mammary Tumor Model, Senem Yavaş, Özkan Yavaş, Semi̇ha Ersoy, Gürsel Sönmez

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Breast cancers are one of the most common cancers in women and are responsible for many deaths worldwide. Mast cells are inflammatory cells. Their role in cancers is controversial, and there is limited data on systemic mast cell activation in cancer cases. This study aimed to evaluate systemic mast cell activation in an experimentally induced rat model of breast cancer. Materials and methods: Sprague Dawley female rats were divided into control (n=6) and mammary tumor (n=12) groups. In the tumor group, 20 mg 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) dissolved in 1 ml cottonseed oil was administered intragastrically by gavage, and the rats …

The Role Of Circadian Rhythm Proteins Rev-Erb Α/ And Β In The Development Of Neuronal Injury After Taumatic Brain Injury, Mahmud Pençe, Enes Dogan, Hali̇l Koç, Ci̇gdem Bayraktaroglu, Serdar Altunay, Zeynep Balçikanli, Ertugrul Kiliç, Mustafa Beker

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/Aim:Circadian rhythm proteins (CRP) play critical roles in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders. As member of CRP, the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα/β regulates circadian rhythm particularly by inhibiting Bmal1 protein and involved in the neuroinflammation- and cell death processes. However, their roles in the development of neuronal injury after traumatic brain injury (TBI) were largely unexplored, which were investigated in the present study.Materials and Methods: For the induction of TBI, animals were submitted to the cryogenic model of TBI, which is a commonly used animal model and shares essential similarities with cerebral ischemia in terms of pathophysiological cascades. …

In Silico Study Of Bioactive Compounds Derived From Indonesian Marine Invertebrates As Novel Antituberculosis Agent, Ayu Masyita, Eri̇s Septiana, Asep Bayu, Bustanussalam Bustanussalam, Jonathan A. Panggabean, Fi̇rdayani̇ Firdayani, Tuti̇k Murniasih

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Tuberculosis has still become the most deadly disease globally. The problem of finding an effective therapeutic is one of the obstacles in the treatment of patients. Marine invertebrates were a treasure since they produced many active compounds. Following up on this issue, screening active compounds is very important. This study will explain the result of anti-tuberculosis screening of compounds derived from marine invertebrates using in silico and confirmed to the in vitro-data.Materials and methods: Three-dimensional (3D) structures of pantothenate kinase (MtPanK type 1, PDB ID: 4BFT), Mycobacterium tuberculosis InhA (MtInhA, PDB ID: 2X23), protein kinase B (PDB ID: 5U94), …

Leaky Gut And Inflammatory Biomarkers In A Medication Overuse Headache Model In Male Rats, Doğa Vuralli, Hale Gök Dağidir, Elif Abbasoğlu Topa, Hayrunnisa Bolay Belen

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Medication overuse is common among chronic migraine patients and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)are the most frequently overused drugs. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying medication overuse headache (MOH) are notcompletely understood. Intestinal hyperpermeability and leaky gut are reported in patients using NSAIDs. The aim of the study is toinvestigate the role of leaky gut and inflammation in an MOH model MOH model in male rats.Methods: The study was conducted in male Sprague Dawley rats. There were two experimental groups. The first group was the chronicNSAID group in which the rats received mefenamic acid (n = 8) for four weeks intraperitoneally (ip) and …

Effects Of Glutamine And Omega-3 Fatty Acids On Intestinal Neomucosa Formation On Colon Serosa In Rats, Mehmet Köstek, Uygar Demi̇r, Ramazan Uçak, Burak Yasin Avci, Aydın Ünal, Osman Bilgin Gülçi̇çek, Ozan Çalişkan, Bülent Çi̇tgez, Erdinç Seri̇n, Sıtkı Gürkan Yetki̇n, Mehmet Mi̇hmanli, Mehmet Uludağ

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Intestinal neomucosa formation is a technique defined for the treatment of short bowel syndrome. This study evaluates the effect of glutamine and omega-3 fatty acids on the growth of intestinal neomucosa on the colonic serosal surface has been evaluated.Materials and methods: Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham, control, glutamine, and omega-3. Laparotomy was performed on all groups. For rats other than the sham group, a 1-cm full-thickness incision was made 4 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve, and colonic serosal surface was sutured as a serosal patch over these openings. By using the oral …

Effect Of Humic Acid On Oxidative Stress And Neuroprotection In Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: An Experimental Study, Burak Kinali, Nail Özdemi̇r, Ali Karadağ, Özge Kaya Korkmaz, Ayşe Gülden Di̇ni̇z, Fatma Demet Arslan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is an important health problem, especially in developing countries withadditional socioeconomic loss. Humic acid (HA) usually has antioxidant, antiinflammatory, blood circulating, and antiviral effects.Hence, it was aimed herein to show the effect of HA on neuroprotection in a TSCI model.Materials and method: A TSCI model was used, in which 24 Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups: control group: subjectedto only laminectomy; sham group: subjected to laminectomy + TSCI; HA 5 mg/kg group: subjected to laminectomy + TSCI +intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 5 mg/kg of HA; and HA 10 mg/kg group: subjected to laminectomy …

Tracking The Footsteps Of Burkholderia Mallei: Determination Of The Molecular Differences And Potential Resistance Genes, Dilek Dülger, Seda Eki̇ci̇, Mehmet Demi̇rci̇, Akın Yi̇ği̇n, Orkun Babacan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Chemical biological radiological nuclear threats are at an important point in the agenda of world health today, as theycan cause mass deaths. B. mallei attracts attention as a potential biological warfare agent due to its features such as multidrug resistance,a rapid transmission mechanism via aerosol, the absence of a complete treatment protocol for the infection it causes, and the absence ofan approved vaccine for protection against the bacteria. B. mallei suspect samples must be studied by experienced personnel in biosafetylevel III laboratories. B mallei is a difficult and troublesome pathogen to diagnose and many unknowns about B. mallei today. Therefore,the …

The Potential Mechanism Of Treating Ic/Bps With Hyperbaric Oxygen By Reducing Vascular Endothelial Growth Inhibitor And Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1Α, Jing Zhang, Jiarui Kang, Liyang Wu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To investigate the roles of vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the treatment of refractory interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO).Materials and methods: A total of 38 patients were included. They were assessed before and 6 months after HBO treatment. Three- day voiding diaries were recorded, and O’leary-Sant scores, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, quality of life (QoL) scores, pelvic pain, and urgency/frequency (PUF) scores were evaluated. Bladder capacity was assessed by cystoscopy. Bladder mucosa was collected for Western blot, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence staining to compare the expression of VEGI and HIF-1α before …