Digital Commons Network^™

Microbial Worlds Within: Sem Of Darlingtonia Pitchers, Sierra Vasinthascha

IdeaFest 2026

Darlingtonia californica relies on microbes within its pitcher fluid to break down captured prey into usable nutrients. This process is typically attributed to bacteria; however, fungi, are also found in the fluid, and their role remains largely unknown. For this project, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to directly visualize microorganisms in pitcher fluid and on pitcher tissue. Cultured bacterial and fungal isolates from Darlingtonia’s fluid provided morphological references for identification. Tissues from the hood and lower pitcher were then processed and examined for comparison. Both bacteria and yeast-like fungi were observed in each region. The abundance of fungi found …

Take Me Out Of The Ballgame: Recovery From Pitching Injuries In The Mlb, Madilyn Shinn

IdeaFest 2026

My project looks into studies focused on Major league baseball, specifically pitchers who have obtained a UCL injury. I took data from several different studies to draw a conclusion that pitchers who recover from UCL surgery can return to the MLB.

Searching For Nooks And Crannies: Geometric And Mechanistic Perspectives On Transformer Language Model Interpretability, Anna Marbut

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated remarkable linguistic capabilities, but the internal mechanisms driving their performance and behavior remain poorly understood. This dissertation investigates the interpretability of transformer-based language models from two complementary perspectives: the geometric organization of model internals in encoder-only models, and the mechanisms underlying safety behavior in decoder-only generative models.

In Part I, we address the challenge of measuring geometric properties in high-dimensional latent spaces, proposing and evaluating alternative measures of data spread that improve upon commonly used metrics. We then apply these measures alongside quantization-based metrics to examine the relationship between latent space geometry and downstream …

Bridging The Gap In Prediabetes Care: Improving Outcomes Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Adults, Becca Gilbride

IdeaFest 2026

Prediabetes disproportionately affects low-income adults, yet many remain unaware or untreated due to limited time and resources in community health care settings. Addressing prediabetes is a critical window of opportunity to prevent type 2 diabetes and is essential to reducing disparities and long-term complications. Guided by the Evidence-Based Practice Change model, this project implements multi-level interventions, including motivational interviewing, community education, and clinical decision support tools. Outcomes focus on improving self-efficacy and engagement and achieving at least a 0.5% A1C reduction within one year. These improvements are expected to enhance quality of life, lower the risk of serious complications, and …

Improving Early Mobility And Family Engagement For Patients In A Rural Intensive Care Unit, Erin Sullivan

IdeaFest 2026

Early mobility and family engagement interventions for mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit are key components of the ICU liberation bundle (A-F). It strives to reduce patient complications, such as delirium, PTSD, progressive weakness, lengthy hospital stays, and mortality. This quality improvement project in a rural ICU employs a multidisciplinary approach to expanding early mobility interventions, educating the care team, patients, and families, addressing barriers, encouraging family participation, and developing an early mobility standard of care protocol. Key outcomes include consistent use of ICU liberation documentation tools by caregivers, enhanced family participation and education, and increased mobilization of …

The Birth Of Afghanistan: From Ancient Persia To A Modern-Day Multiethnic And Linguistic Country, Tyler A. Worm

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis offers a comprehensive historical analysis of the formation and evolution of Afghan identity from antiquity through the early medieval period, emphasizing the region’s role as a dynamic crossroads of civilizations. It traces the origins of Afghan populations to Indo-Iranian pastoralist migrations and examines the successive influence of major imperial formations, including the Median and Achaemenid Persian empires, the conquests of Alexander and the Seleucid period, and the rise of the Kushan, Parthian, and Sasanian states. Through this longue durée approach, the study demonstrates how Afghanistan’s geographic position facilitated continuous cultural interaction, economic exchange, and political contestation, producing a …

An Exploratory Analysis Of The Role Of Sex In Load Carriage, Rachel E. Perez, Dustin R. Slivka, Brent C. Ruby

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Axially loaded weight may impose a metabolic demand equivalent to that of fat mass (FM) during load carriage. Males (M) typically have a lower body fat percentage than females (F), resulting in metabolic demand differences during load carriage that may be mitigated by accounting for FM in pack loads. PURPOSE: To determine whether normalizing pack load to FM equalizes metabolic cost across sexes during load carriage. METHODS: Twenty-eight participants (14M, 23 ± 5 y, 1.81 ± 0.07 m, 78.7 ± 10.0 kg, 12.7 ± 5.4% body fat, VO₂peak 4.18 ± 0.54 L·min^-1; 14F, 22 ± 4 …

Modern Consumption: Digital Media And Food Intake In Young Adults, Norah Mieloch

IdeaFest 2026

This poster explores how digital media influences food engagement in terms of what we eat and why, how hormonal hunger and satiety cues may be impacted by screens during mealtime, how media content targets certain food behaviors (intentional and not), and meal appreciation. In learning about the impacts of digital media consumption alongside food consumption, the audience will understand the effects on their health and how screens change their brain chemistry - hopefully allowing them to make an educated decision of whether or not to engage in media while eating.

Relative Abundance Of Pacific Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris Regilla) In Urban And Managed Wetland Systems, Finn Otero

IdeaFest 2026

Urban development is shrinking wetland habitat used by many species. I am investigating how Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudacris regilla) are distributed across the different urban, agricultural, and managed wetlands in the coastal portion of Humboldt, County, CA. In addition to that, I am investigating what may be leading the frogs to select for one habitat over others, such as vegetation cover in the area and landscape around the wetland. This can be used to understand Pacific chorus frog prevalence in urban areas and how the landscape may influence their choice of habitat. This can also be used to demonstrate how …

2025 World Aids Remembrance, Paul Michael Atienza

IdeaFest 2026

The 2025 World AIDS Remembrance was a two-week program of events and displays that brought awareness and learning opportunities about the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis around the world. It was one of several Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Grant Program recipients for the 2025-2026 academic year. Lead organizer, Dr. Paul Michael L. Atienza, collaborated with on and off campus partners to provide a variety presentations from public health professionals, community organizers, film screenings, and the Eureka Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Over 100 community members participated and experienced the events.

Improving Diabetes Outcomes In Native American Populations, Meagan Shadle

IdeaFest 2026

Despite organized efforts, Humboldt County tribes have had little improvement regarding diabetes outcomes when compared to county and state data averages. These trends suggest that regardless of advancements in therapy, monitoring and prevention there is still an issue of equity among ethnic groups in Humboldt County. This data highlights the need for an integrative and culturally centered, community based strategy that aims to improve the health outcomes and longevity of the Indigenous peoples within this shared land. By providing individualized care plans and disease process management with community engagement programs focused on relevant and accessible diet and lifestyle education there …

Human Disturbance Affecting Foraging Of Great Egrets, Michelle Villalpando

IdeaFest 2026

This project examined how human disturbance influences the foraging behavior of Great Egrets (Ardea alba) in tidal wetlands near Humboldt Bay, California. Observations were conducted at Butcher’s Slough and Elk River Slough during low tides when egrets actively forage. Strike rates were recorded under different disturbance conditions, including the presence of pedestrians and people with dogs near the birds. Results showed that pedestrian activity did not reduce foraging efficiency and, in some cases, was associated with higher strike rates, while dogs had no significant effect. Findings suggest that Great Egrets in frequently visited wetlands may be habituated to regular human …

Career Development Through College Corps, Gia Gruenhagen

IdeaFest 2026

As a College Corps Fellow, I served at Coastal Grove for three years. I have assisted in the handwork class for all three years. While working there I have learned many new skills like knitting, and leather work. I have also got to hone my skills in crocheting and sewing. I had the opportunity to work with the second grade class for my final year, and before that worked, with the previous second grade class as well. From this I have learned the basic office skills like printing, and organization. I have gained a compassion for teachers, and admire their …

Heart Of Stone: Geomorphization Through Stone-Oriented Affects, Grace F. Foster

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis draws from the work of geologist Marcia Bjornerud to bring a scientific (specifically geologic) understanding of humanity’s relationship to our home planet to bear in a literary context. I employ Bjornerud’s term “geomorphization” to expand from inter-species kinship to inter-substance kinship and to establish stone as an active, lively subject without relying on anthropomorphization. Geomorphization as I define it refers to recognizing similarity between ourselves and stone/Earth on the basis of our stoniness rather than stone’s human-ness. Geomorphizing ourselves entails what Bjornerud calls “timefulness,” a geologic perspective on temporality that sees the past as continually acting in the …

Curtains Up On A Future Teacher! My College Corps Fellow Experience, Evan Pierce

IdeaFest 2026

As a College Corps fellow, I worked with Arcata High School, particularly the theatre strand of the Arcata Arts Institute. In this program, I have been supporting students in the classroom and in the theatre productions. Looking to become a high school theatre teacher myself, working with Melanie Zapper has been truly a wonderful and incredibly meaningful experience. Theatre programs provide students with a fun, creative outlet while also preparing them with real-life skills such as time management, collaboration, flexibility, and public speaking. I am so grateful to have gotten an opportunity to use my passion and experience to support …

Fad Diets Or Bad Diets?, Walker Dorris

IdeaFest 2026

A literature review on fad diets and their effectiveness and sustainability with regard to weight loss and overall health.

Bridging The Gap: Evaluating Gnss-Derived Total Water Storage As A Groundwater Monitoring Tool In The Colorado River Basin, Michelle Lee Barton

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Groundwater resources in the Colorado River Basin are critically stressed yet remain under-monitored and under-regulated, creating urgent need for reliable, continuous observations at multiple spatial scales. This study evaluates the performance of the University of Montana Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) terrestrial water storage dataset as a tool for bridging groundwater monitoring gaps across the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins between 2006 and 2024. We compare GNSS-derived total water storage and groundwater storage estimates against NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite observations and in-situ groundwater well measurements at regional and sub-regional scales. We employ a Bayesian autoregressive …

Reducing Surgical Site Infections Through Implementation Of An Evidence-Based Ssi Prevention Bundle, Diana Meraz

IdeaFest 2026

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most common healthcare-associated infections. A rural community hospital identified an increase in SSIs among patients undergoing open abdominal surgeries. This project aims to reduce SSI rates through the implementation of a standardized SSI prevention bundle, including preoperative chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing, proper skin preparation, timely antibiotic administration, use of wound protection devices, and clean closure techniques. Implementation requires collaboration between multiple team levels. Evaluation of the project will include process, impact, and outcome measures. Expected outcomes include reduced SSI rates, improved patient safety, shorter hospital stays, and decreased healthcare costs.

An Ecology Of Small Sorrows: Small Animals And The Fragile Ecosystems Inside Us, Haley H. Yarborough

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In An Ecology of Small Sorrows, Haley Yarborough uses a series of personal essays to explore how encounters with small life shape her understanding of herself. This collection is inspired by many talented writers — Lucy Cooke’s insights into animal biology, Andy Weir’s humor and knack for explaining complicated topics, Ben Goldfarb’s insightful exploration of the overlooked, and Sabrina Embler’s beautiful, poetic reflections on the natural world.

These essays touch on how small animals serve as mirrors for us, through our experiences with illness, loss, insecurity, and survival. While a lot of modern media emphasize larger, charismatic species to tell …

Effects Of Weather On Passerine Garden Feeder Usage, Elise Edell

IdeaFest 2026

Garden feeders have become a popular appliance used by wildlife lovers over the years, allowing researchers to study responses to novel food sources by bird populations all around the world. However, little is known on how those responses change in accordance with specific weather conditions such as rainfall. This study asks whether small passerine species reliance on garden feeders correlates with precipitation and temperature, with the intent to better inform public usage of feeders throughout urban communities in the future.

Cattle Pastures As High Tide Refugia For Shorebirds In Humboldt Bay, Colby Gagnebin

IdeaFest 2026

Shorebirds displaced from intertidal mudflats during high tide inundation often utilize nearby grasslands as alternative foraging and roosting habitats. I hypothesize that shorebird abundance and species richness are higher in pastures located near their primary habitats, and are similarly positively correlated with moist soil, standing water, and cattle presence. To test this, I will conduct surveys during high tides across various pastures in the Arcata Bottoms, measuring shorebird abundance, species richness, and key habitat features such as soil moisture, surface water presence, cattle presence, and proximity to the nearest tidal flat. The relationships between these habitat characteristics and shorebird response …

Water Depth To Body Size Correlation In Dabbling Ducks, Santiago Vera-Buoncristiani

IdeaFest 2026

I wanted to understand the correlation between dabbling duck body size and water depth in tidal exposed environments and how significant these habitats are for smaller species that have less access to deeper food sources.

Wicked Problems Through An Interdisciplinary Framework, Sarah Peters Gonzalez

IdeaFest 2026

Wicked problems are complex issues that resist straightforward solutions due to their interconnected nature, uncertainty, and ambiguity. These problems defy simple solutions, are shaped by countless variables and often lack clear boundaries. No single discipline holds the key to addressing them. By integrating diverse perspectives, knowledge, and methodologies, students in the Individualized Degree Program (IDP) explored a range of wicked problems, examining them from multiple disciplinary angles, drawing on insights from various fields: science, humanities, and more. The aim of the project is to showcase the power of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing the challenges of our time.

A Comparative Study Of The Presence Of Omnivores In Suburban Spaces, Jazmine Busteed

IdeaFest 2026

This study will test the daily/nightly presence/absence of raccoons (Procyon Lotor), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), black bears (Ursus americanus), and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and compare it to human presence (an aggregate of cars, humans, and domesticated animals) and temperature. Camera traps will be deployed at 7 sites in suburban neighborhoods in Arcata, CA, with data collection spanning 5 weeks in February and March. The implications include a better understanding of the suburban gradient as a suitable habitat for mammalian species

Influence Of Microclimate Conditions On Salamander Abundance, Seth Stephens

IdeaFest 2026

This project quantified the relationship between terrestrial salamanders and their microhabitats at a spatial scale. I predicted that salamander encounters will be higher at cover objects associated with higher soil moisture, deeper leaf litter, and greater canopy cover, and lower in drier, more open sites. By finding these similarities or differences between the relationship of salamander abundance and canopy-controlled microclimate this study contributes to a broader understanding of how forest structure can have influence over moisture-dependent wildlife.

Paternal Stress As A Contributor To Neuropsychiatric Disease Risk In Offspring, Chris Roberds

IdeaFest 2026

Chronic stress is increasingly common and may have consequences across generations. Paternal chronic stress has been shown to alter sperm small RNAs and influence offspring neurodevelopment and psychiatric disease risk. However, how stress signals from the brain reach the germline and how offspring respond to stress remains unclear. This study examines epigenetic inheritance of paternal stress and its effects on offspring stress responses. We compared offspring of chronically stressed and non-stressed sires and measured corticosterone following an acute stressor. Offspring of stressed fathers exhibited reduced corticosterone responses, with evidence of sex-specific differences in stress regulation.

Moving For Two: Understanding The Physiological Effects Of Prenatal Exercise, Jasmine Torres

IdeaFest 2026

Exercise during pregnancy supports important cardiovascular, metabolic, and hormonal adaptations that promote maternal and fetal health. Despite evidence showing benefits such as improved cardiovascular function, better glucose regulation, healthy weight gain, and reduced risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension, most pregnant individuals do not meet exercise guidelines. Low participation is often due to misconceptions, safety concerns, and limited education. Promoting physical activity during pregnancy may serve as an effective strategy to improve maternal health outcomes and prevent pregnancy-related complications.

Living The American Dystopia: Parallels Between Louise Erdrich's Future Home Of The Living God, Leni Zumas's Red Clocks, And Us Abortion Legislation, Erin R. Walden

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis highlights the parallels between contemporary U.S. culture and legislation (particularly after the overturning of Roe v. Wade) and two pieces of feminist speculative fiction: Louise Erdrich’s novel Future Home of the Living God and Leni Zumas’s Red Clocks. Through a rhetorical analysis of political and cultural discourse, legislation, and the two novels, utilizing the frameworks of theorists such as Catharine MacKinnon, Michel Foucault, and Stacy Alaimo, I investigate the similarities in legislation, culture, rhetoric, and atmospheres of reproductive dystopian fiction and our current political environment after the U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health …

Understanding Microglial Phenotype Switching Through Dimensionality Reduction And Clustering Analysis, Anthony Wolfe

IdeaFest 2026

Microglia are the brain’s resident immune cells, capable of shifting between pro- and anti-inflammatory states to regulate neural homeostasis. Disruptions to this balance contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. We analyzed single-cell gene expression data from approximately 600 mouse-derived microglia across six weeks to identify genes that capture cellular variability in both high and low dimensional representations. We also performed unsupervised clustering to identify subpopulations within the dataset based on gene expression patterns. This allowed us to map the known spectrum of functional states these cells occupy and examine how these transcriptional states change over time.

Pestilent Air, Contagious Evil: Infectious Disease In Early Modern Poland, Danielle Marie Airola

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The individuals buried in the cemetery of Czysty Square and the population of the vanished village of Gać lived and died during the early modern period in what is now modern-day Poland. Epidemics broke out repeatedly during this time, and the skeletal remains of several individuals buried in Czysty Square’s cemetery display pathological changes suggestive of infectious disease. These non-specific morphological changes created a need for DNA testing to search for pathogens associated with these lesions. In contrast, Gać’s population declined over time until the village’s abandonment. This has led to a hypothesis of an epidemic having contributed to the …