Digital Commons Network^™

Digital Health Literacy On Diabetes Knowledge Among Older Adults In The United States, Jung Eun Kim, Susana J. Calderon, Myoungjin Kim

Faculty Publications - Mennonite College of Nursing

Purpose

This study examines the relationship between selected socio-demographics and digital health literacy on diabetes knowledge among older adults in the United States.

Design

Cross-sectional study

Methods

The eHealth Literacy Scale and the Short Diabetes Knowledge Instrument were used. Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s r, point-biserial correlation coefficient, Kendall’s tau, ANOVA, and Poisson regression were used for data analysis.

Findings

The mean age was 71. The mean sum score for digital health literacy was 28.32 (SD = 7.95; range, 8–40), and the mean score for diabetes knowledge was 8.8 (SD = 2.3; range, 2–13). The education level, annual income, number of digital …

Non-Coding Rnas As Regulators Of Coral Biology, Jill Ashey

Open Access Dissertations

Coral reef ecosystems face increasing threats from climate change, yet knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underlie coral acclimatization, resilience, and development remains incomplete. Among these mechanisms, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), specifically microRNAs (miRNAs), are emerging as key regulators of gene expression in response to environmental and developmental cues. This dissertation explores the diversity, function, and dynamics of ncRNAs in scleractinian corals across ecological, physiological, and developmental contexts. In Chapter 1, I present the first comprehensive analysis of ncRNAs - specifically long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), miRNAs, and piwi-RNAs (piRNAs) - in three reef-building coral species from Mo’orea, French Polynesia: Acropora pulchra, …

Electro-Vascular Dynamics During Auditory Processing: Variation Along The Schizotypy Continuum, John P. Mclinden

Open Access Dissertations

Electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) are complementary noninvasive neuroimaging modalities that have contributed greatly to our understanding of the mechanisms of auditory processing. As an emerging technology, fNIRS has produced promising insights into the mechanisms of auditory processing, although considerable work remains to characterize hemodynamic responses in auditory tasks. In addition, the complementary nature of EEG and fNIRS and the relationships between the signals they record have been underexplored. In particular, nonlinear interactions between these signals remain under-characterized, despite the potential benefit to future multimodal neuroimaging studies. A challenge in understanding these interactions is the influence of systemic …

The Clarke Museum, Josue Bermudez

IdeaFest 2025

This year, I had the opportunity to work with the Clarke Historical Museum, one of the largest in Humboldt County. I helped set up exhibits, worked on projects, and participated in community events. Through this, I learned how a small community preserves and shares its history. Balancing this with college was challenging, but the support from Josh and the Clarke staff made it manageable. This experience deepened my appreciation for public history and inspired me to pursue future work that connects education, culture, and community engagement.

Identifying Optimal Temperature Ranges That Support Juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) Growth In The Klamath Basin, Isabelle Shirah

IdeaFest 2025

This project looks at yearly temperature ranges and growth metrics for fish sampled at three sites along the Klamath basin.

Corridor Proximity And Habitat Influence On Small Mammal Rescue Call Frequency, Fernando Herrera

IdeaFest 2025

This project spatially analyzes mammal wildlife rescue call data in McKinleyville, Arcata, and Eureka, CA, to understand how wildlife corridors influence the location and frequency wildlife are brought in for rehabilitation.

Scavenger Interactions With Marine Mammal Carcasses Along The Northern California Coast, Keith Erickson

IdeaFest 2025

My research looked into how scavengers are using marine mammal carcasses and what is affecting this relationship. I worked with the Marine Mammal Education and Research Program to obtain carcasses ranging from Crescent City down to Cape Mendocino. I used game cameras placed on the beaches to monitor scavenging activity, responding to a total of 9 California Sea Lion and 2 Harbor Seal carcasses from October to April.

Cal Poly Humboldt Presents Prasch Hall Facility Needs Assessment, Matthew Cherovsky

IdeaFest 2025

My senior project is a facility needs assessment of Prasch Hall Community Center in Blue Lake, California. It gathers feedback from community members and facility users regarding their overall satisfaction with the facility, and its programs. The surveys were given out to the public both physically and digitally to ensure accessibility. I then summarized the results in a report with charts, summaries for each of the questions, and both short-term (1-year) and long-term (5+ year) improvement plans. The goal is to help inform the City of Blue Lake’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan while strengthening community engagement and facility operations.

James' Fabulous Mobile Dog Food Pantry: A Grassroots Initiative!, James Brother

IdeaFest 2025

I developed a mobile dog food pantry to meet the needs of unsheltered pets across Humboldt County. Using donations from various sources and implementing similar models used by local nonprofits, I developed access to pet food in areas with an unmet need.

How Does Restoration Affect Food Web Dynamics Within Quail Populations In The Mckinleyville Land Trust Dow’S Prairie Educational Wetland?, Taylor Shaw, Jesika Gonzalez, Lorilynn Acosta, Logan Blank, Zen Godinez, Amir Malikyar, Nanette Durbin, Nievita Bueno Watts

IdeaFest 2025

The McKinleyville Land Trust’s Dow’s Prairie Educational Wetland is a 2.55-acre endangered coastal prairie wetland in California, conserved in 2009. Restoration efforts with the Wiyot Tribe and U.S. Fish & Wildlife removed invasives and reintroduced native plants, but coincided with declining California quail (Callipepla californica) populations. This study establishes the first baseline conditions, using wildlife cameras and botanical surveys to assess quail habitat suitability, examining invasive removal, predation, and fragmentation impacts. Findings will guide adaptive management to balance biodiversity and restoration, while honoring the Baduwa’t Wiyot’s ancestral homeland.

Habitat Variation And Shorebird Roosting Flocks Across Arcata Marsh, Karl Vanuska

IdeaFest 2025

This research project looks at how species composition in shorebird roosting flocks varies across different locations within Arcata Marsh. This research assesses how environmental factors, such as substrate type, vegetation cover, proximity to foraging areas, and tidal conditions, influence species richness and diversity at roosting sites. As well as if behavior may change due to species composition within roosting flocks.

Modeling Peak Photosynthesis In The Great Smoky Mountains, Crystal Diaz, Rachel Torres

IdeaFest 2025

This study examines how climate change is affecting plant phenology—the timing of seasonal growth—in the Great Smoky Mountains (GSM), a deciduous forest located between North Carolina and Tennessee. The research focuses on how variations in spring temperature and winter precipitation influence the timing of peak vegetation growth, measured using the Green Chromatic Coordinate (GCC). GCC is a spectral index that tracks the greenness of vegetation from RGB images, indicating leaf development and peak photosynthesis. Using data from the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), the project aims to predict when peak GCC occurs each year.

Does Having Siblings Affect The Recognition Of Children’S Emotional Displays?, Jasper Toledo, Povheng Yam, Denise Dolan, Nathan Boone, Kaitlin Duskin, Andrew Greely, Aiden Ott, Amanda C. Hahn

IdeaFest 2025

This research study looks into whether participants with siblings are able to understand the emotional display in images of children more so than participants without siblings. We hypothesized that participants with younger siblings will have a greater likelihood to notice emotional responses in children due to alloparental caregiving behavior. Sixty images of children expressing six emotional displays were shown to participants. Overall, there was no difference in emotional recognition accuracy between participant groups. Specific emotional displays were recognized more than others for all groups, with the most recognized emotional display being happiness.

A Picc Dislodgement And Securement Solution, Judah O’Shaughnessy

IdeaFest 2025

This research project introduces a quality improvement initiative aimed at reducing or eliminating the risks associated with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) dislodgement. While PICCs are a valuable and useful tool at providing safe and effective intravenous medication administration, they do have the vulnerability of dislodgement which can have catastrophic consequences resulting in patient harm or death. Nurse-led implementation of the subcutaneously anchored securement system and interventions at the patient, department, and policy level can reduce or eliminate PICC dislodgement and the risk associated with inadequate PICC securement.

Does Anthropogenic Noise Effect Passerine Diversity And Abundance On Campus?, Dee Paz Naranjo

IdeaFest 2025

Point count survey of passerine birds on Cal Poly Humboldt campus. Sites revisited multiple times to create a site occupancy model and examine species diversity, abundance, in relation to anthropogenic noise pollution on a landscape. As well, examine detection efficacy of other covariate factors.

Alcohol Use Disorder In Humboldt, Emily Monahan

IdeaFest 2025

Residents of Humboldt County have a higher-than-average incidence of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) when compared to the rest of California and the US. Local youth report drinking alcohol at a younger age, and more frequently than average. Alcohol related hospital admissions are frequent for those who have AUD. Addressing the problem starts at early intervention in adolescents and continues through adulthood. Humboldt county lacks resources for those suffering from AUD and a specialized detox facility would decrease the amount of hospital admissions for alcohol related diagnoses. Making these resources and facilities available to Humboldt County residents could help reduce Alcohol …

Comparing Mammalian Populations And Human Disturbance Between Different Units At The Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Erin Konefal

IdeaFest 2025

Comparing mammalian presence and diversity between different units of the Humboldt Wildlife Refuge

Fawn Awareness - A Health Education Initiative, Jessica De Laguna

IdeaFest 2025

"Fawn Awareness" is a year-long health education initiative highlighting the often-overlooked fourth stress response: Fawn, or the “Submit” response. Seen across the animal kingdom, submission can be just as vital for survival as fight, flight, or freeze. In humans, Fawn often develops in childhood as a way to maintain a sense of security with inconsistent caregivers, later manifesting as difficulty setting boundaries and chronic people-pleasing. This project includes a YouTube video, news article, and research paper featuring expert insight and real-life anecdotes to raise awareness and promote mental health through understanding this misidentified trauma response.

Adapting To Autism-Friendly Care In A Rural Hospital, Kelly Wheelock

IdeaFest 2025

This evidence-based quality improvement project reviews solutions for enhancing safety and outcomes in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within rural hospital settings. Through the application of the Revised Iowa Model and systematically reviewing peer-reviewed articles and professional guidelines, the project aims at addressing key challenges and proposing evidence-based solutions. Solutions include patient-tailored care, staff training, and hospital-level policy actions. A SMART goal aims at measurable enhancement in patient safety and satisfaction through a systematic multi-level process for autism-informed care.

Potawot Community Garden: Moving Beyond Land Acknowledgements, Chrys Furrer

IdeaFest 2025

Potawot Community Garden serves as an exemplary model of the environmental and social health impacts of returning Indigenous land to Indigenous hands. The College Corps program, with Potawot as a community partner, gives student fellows the opportunities to serve in support of Potawot's mission of enhancing Indigenous food sovereignty while mitigating food insecurity, restoring the land, and supporting the cultural healing of Indigenous community members as well as the broader community. This project invites readers to take action through volunteer involvement with organizations such as Potawot, making monetary donations to the Wiyot tribe, and advocating for Indigenous land rematriation.

Analyzing Soil Quality & Forage Potential Of Solar Microhabitats In Coastal Grasslands, Claudia Alfaro Hernandez, Logan Holey, Gabriel Abundis, Tonia Brito-Bersi, Justin C. Luong

IdeaFest 2025

As the global population grows, ensuring sustainable food and energy systems becomes increasingly important. While solar panels support clean energy goals, they can displace prime agricultural land and critical habitat for native grazers in coastal grasslands. Agrovoltaics—integrating solar infrastructure with land used for agriculture or grazing—offers a promising compromise. However, research on solar microgrids in coastal grassland ecosystems remains limited. This study examines how solar microgrids impact soil quality and forage potential in these sensitive landscapes.

Arcata House Partnership Housing Is A Human Right!, Grey Hildebrand, Juli-Ann Johnson, Jacquelyn Perez, Emma Wilson, Mariana Lara, Vanessa Luis

IdeaFest 2025

No abstract provided.

Factors Influencing River Otter Activity, Marley Vulker

IdeaFest 2025

This research investigates the factors influencing river otter (Lontra canadensis) diel activity along two contrasting study sites. Using camera traps from summer to fall 2023, I compare otter activity in two locations: the Eel River Estuary Reserve, an area of low human activity, and the Arcata Marsh, an area of high human activity. I explore whether otters exhibit different activity patterns depending on tidal phase and lunar phase. By comparing otter behavior in these contrasting environments, this study aims to understand how human activity and environmental conditions shape otter behavior, overall contributing to more effective conservation and habitat management strategies.

Nourishing Community Health, Levit Cantu

IdeaFest 2025

Open Door Health Centers is a nonprofit community clinic that provides affordable, accessible healthcare to underserved populations. As a College Corps Fellow, I work with the Member Services department, specifically supporting gardens and food resources. My role focuses on increasing access to fresh, healthy food through community garden initiatives and resource navigation. This experience has allowed me to support food security efforts while gaining insight into the intersection of health, nutrition, and community service.

Climate Anxiety: What Are The Effects Of Climate Change On Young People’S Development?, Benjamin Romo, Makayla Millea, Sami Alvarez

IdeaFest 2025

We reviewed nine peer-reviewed empirical articles on the effects of climate change on young people’s development. The problem is that climate change is so rapid that not many people know its severity and how it can affect us, our children, and our daily lives. We aim to shed light on the psychological side of climate change and present solutions we have found through the various articles listed.

Plant Traits Vary Across Microhabitats Under Solar Microgrids On Coastal Grasslands, Logan Holey, Claudia Alfaro Hernandez, Gabriel Abundis, Tonia Brito-Bersi, Ernesto Chavez- Velasco, Justin C. Luong

IdeaFest 2025

The development of photovoltaic systems is increasing with growing demand for clean energy. Plant functional traits can be used to understand what plants are establishing in different microhabitats because traits respond to environmental constraints and fluctuations. We sampled three solar microgrids in coastal grasslands in Humboldt County for plant community composition and leaf traits. We found that plant traits varied by microhabitat indicating that microgrids apply an environmental filter in plant community assembly. Results from this study can be used to inform plant selection for habitat enhancement or restoration.

Lupinus Nipomensis Survey To Assess Plant Growth And Grazing Management Strategies, Trinity J. Edwards, Wendy Kornberg, Justin Luong

IdeaFest 2025

Lupinus nipomensis (Nipomo Lupine) is an endangered endemic species to the Nipomo-Guadalupe Dunes in San Luis Obispo County, California. Scientists have been researching this species for many years to better understand it. Ehrharta calycina (Veldt Grass) is an introduced perennial grass species that outcompetes Nipomo Lupine. Various groups have tried to aid Nipomo Lupine in its survival by manual pulling and herbicide treatment of Veldt grass. We are beginning to investigate grazing as an alternative management tool, which will hopefully prove to better aid this species in its survival.

Environmental Monitoring For Tests Of Gravity Below Fifty Microns, Abby Keltz, Kelsey Sako, Elizabeth Rosales, Frederick Kuster-Tabares, Charles D. Hoyle

IdeaFest 2025

Attempts to unify the Standard Model and General Relativity often include features that violate the Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) and/or the gravitational Inverse-Square Law (ISL). A violation would question our understanding of gravity. To further understand this, undergraduate researchers and faculty at Humboldt are experimenting to measure gravitational interactions below 50 microns. The experiment uses a composition dipole torsion pendulum next to an oscillating mass. This creates torque on the pendulum, the magnitude of which may provide evidence for deviations in the WEP or ISL.

Nourishing Communities, One Meal At A Time, Hanna Valentin, Ulises Godinez, Rah Camacho Ruiz, Petrita Rodriguez

IdeaFest 2025

Food banks around the country are working to alleviate hunger and improve food security for low-income families, seniors, and children through distribution programs and nutrition education. This poster explores the vital role that food banks play in our community and examines how federal budget cuts - especially to SNAP and TEFAP - threaten its ability to serve those in need. By highlighting both research and community data, this project underscores the urgent need to support local food systems and advocate for sustainable food assistance programs.

Addressing The Full Spectrum Of Acl Injury, Delilah Kimble-Gray

IdeaFest 2025

Having torn my own ACL, I understand firsthand the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges athletes face in recovery. Through this research, I aim to shed light on the often-overlooked aspects of ACL treatment. This includes the need for gender-specific prevention programs and the mental resilience required for healing. While advances in surgery and rehabilitation offer hope, there is still much to be done, particularly in supporting non-elite athletes and integrating innovative technologies. In conclusion, my goal is to create a more holistic approach to ACL injury prevention and recovery, addressing both the body and the mind.