Digital Commons Network^™

Three-Dimensional Deep Learning Normal Tissue Complication Probability Model To Predict Late Xerostomia In Patients With Head And Neck Cancer, Hung Chu, Suzanne P M De Vette, Hendrike Neh, Nanna M Sijtsema, Roel J H M Steenbakkers, Amy Moreno, Johannes A Langendijk, Peter M A Van Ooijen, Clifton D Fuller, Lisanne V Van Dijk

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Conventional normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models for patients with head and neck cancer are typically based on single-value variables, which, for radiation-induced xerostomia, are baseline xerostomia and mean salivary gland doses. This study aimed to improve the prediction of late xerostomia by using 3-dimensional information from radiation dose distributions, computed tomography imaging, organ-at-risk segmentations, and clinical variables with deep learning (DL).

Methods and materials: An international cohort of 1208 patients with head and neck cancer from 2 institutes was used to train and twice validate DL models (deep convolutional neural network, EfficientNet-v2, and ResNet) with 3-dimensional dose distribution, …

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Cell Percentages As Diagnostic Markers Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Pneumonitis, Mahnoor Mir, Felipe Soto, Pedro Antonio Amezcua Gomez, Rodrigo Del Rio Arroyo, Adarsh Suresh, Amber Su, Qiong Gan, John Stewart, Roberto Adachi, Diwakar D Balachandran, Lara Bashoura, Roberto F Casal, Burton F Dickey, George A Eapen, Scott E Evans, Horiana Grosu, Carlos A Jimenez, Julie Lin, David E Ost, Bruce F Sabath, Vickie R Shannon, Aung Naing, Jianjun Gao, Jia Wu, Karthik Suresh, Saadia A Faiz, Mehmet Altan, Ajay Sheshadri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Diagnostic biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (ICIP) are lacking. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) lymphocytosis has been associated with ICIP, but studies have not evaluated BAL lymphocytosis as a diagnostic biomarker for ICIP.

Purpose: This study aimed to measure the association of BAL immune cell percentage with ICIP and test its performance as a diagnostic biomarker.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 476 patients treated with ICIs for solid organ or hematologic malignancies who underwent BAL between 2016 and 2022. Two independent reviewers, blinded to the results of BAL cell percentage, confirmed the diagnosis of ICIP or other …

Deep Dive Into Targeted Therapies: Understanding Idh1-Mutant Aml Treatments [Podcast], Amer M Zeidan, Courtney Dinardo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This podcast episode reviews recent advances in the treatment of IDH1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML), focusing on the mechanisms, efficacy, and safety profiles of approved IDH1 inhibitors. The purpose is to present expert insights and clinical data from key trials that underscore the clinical benefits of these targeted therapies. Through discussion of key findings from pivotal clinical trial studies, including data supporting the use of these agents in both newly diagnosed and relapsed or refractory (R/R) settings, the episode highlights significant outcomes such as increased overall response and prolonged duration of remission in patients treated with IDH1 inhibitors. The analysis …

Wait... Homework Can Be Fun?! A Pilot Homework System Study, Caroline Brock

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Homework has been a long-debated topic in schools. Regardless of where people stand on the issue, the evidence shows that quality homework can be an effective tool to help students be successful in school. Beyond academics, homework can also be used as a tool to help students develop important foundational study skills that are critical for future success. But how can school districts get all stakeholders behind a homework system if they do not see the value of homework, or if the homework is a point of individual or familial stress. Through an action research project using mixed methods, parents …

Comparative Olfactory Anatomy Of Wild And Hatchery-Raised Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss), Nicole Rahman-Garnier

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are an ecologically and culturally important salmonid species that exhibits diverse life history strategies, including anadromous and resident freshwater life cycles. Though many studies have examined their olfactory morphology, none have directly compared possible olfactory microstructural differences between wild and hatchery-raised populations. Histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to compare the gross anatomy and ultrastructure of olfactory rosettes in three O. mykiss populations: wild residents from Jacoby Creek (JC), a resident lineage of hatchery fish from Mad River Hatchery (MRH), and an anadromous lineage from the Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH) Hatchery. The …

Environmental And Spatial Drivers Of Quillback Rockfish (Sebastes Maliger) Growth In The Northeast Pacific Ocean From California To Alaska, Claire E. Stuart

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger) are a nearshore fishery species found across the Northeast Pacific Ocean, but recent stock assessments have identified a research gap for biological growth parameters, particularly for the southern end of their range. Age-length data compiled from California to Alaska (n=34,396) was used to generate extended von Bertalanffy models with spatial, biological, and environmental covariates, specifically region, sex, depth, and an upwelling index. The objectives of this study were to explore how 1) spatial and 2) environmental covariates affect model parameters L_∞, k, and t₀. Four total models were developed: …

The Effects Of Anxiety On Rock Climbing Performance In A Competition Setting, Jackson W. Miller

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The purpose of this study was to examine how anxiety affects rock climbing performance in a simulated competition setting. Anxiety is known to influence motor performance in athletic environments, often impairing fine motor coordination, decision-making, and movement efficiency. This research aimed to explore whether elevated competitive pressure would alter climb time, move count, and total mistakes made during bouldering performance. Fifteen intermediate climbers (V5 level) were recruited and completed three separate trials of the same route under varying conditions: (1) a control climb, (2) a self-competition trial where participants attempted to beat their own baseline time, and (3) a head-to-head …

Curriculum Addressing Recidivism: A Case Study Of Project Rebound’S Youth Empowerment Program, Julie Stewart

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Providing effective rehabilitation for justice-involved youth is an increasing priority within the American social justice system, yet remains a significant challenge. The Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) at Cal Poly Humboldt uses curriculum to support learning objectives related to emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and emotional maturation, with the broader goal of reducing recidivism among youth in Northern California. Although curriculum design is widely understood in education as essential for effective learning, limited research examines how youth rehabilitation programs in carceral settings use curriculum to address the developmental and learning needs of participants. Using a case study methodology, this research examines how …

Kelp Guardians Can Save The World: A Food Sovereignty Lab Report Of The Ghvtlh-K’Vsh Shu'-Srnelh-'I~ (Kelp Guardians) California Sea Grant, Delaney A. Schroeder-Echavarria

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As partners of the Ghvtlh-k’vsh Shu'-srnelh-'i~ (Kelp Guardians) California Sea Grant project, the Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab and Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute has actively engaged with local educators, Tribal organizations, and Tribal Nations to create youth-centered curricula, researched through a community-based participatory research lens. This is demonstrated through an innovative approach to recruiting and retaining Indigenous youth and community interest in coastal and marine ecosystems and resources by connecting with Indigenous cultural practices, Indigenous sciences, and community-based programs to encourage future careers. The Kelp Guardians project is led by the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation (TDN or Nation) and includes various …

Geographic Disparity And The Comparison Of Projectile Points In Central California, Robert Clark Newcomb

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The study of stone projectile point typology is not new. Many scholars have developed both similar and very different approaches to classifying various point types based on a wide variety of key morphological characteristics. The comparison of projectile point types and sizes from disparate regions, however, has not been widely examined. This research utilizes the classification systems of Noel Justice (Justice 2002a) and Brian Glenn (Glenn 1991) as a basis for comparing projectile point specimens from two disparate geographic regions. The first specimen collection comes from the Vandenberg Space Force Base region on the central coast of California and represents …

Student Housing Insecurity And Its Impacts On Academic Enthusiasm: A Multi-Method Analysis Of Cal Poly Humboldt, Aaron Gabriel Perez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Cal Poly Humboldt has faced major challenges in the realm of housing due to a long history of shortages and difficulties in prioritizing the distribution of housing amongst the student population. Recent issues such as the mold infestations in Fall 2024 bring this into focus as the campus is also trying to expand its available housing through constructing new housing facilities. This in conjunction with the campus’ desire to continually increase its student population base year by year brings into question the fundamental goals of the campus and whether or not students feel the campus is helping or hurting them. …

Examining The Effects Of A Teaching Theory Of Mind Curriculum For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kayla Marie Hart

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Theory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to attribute mental states – thoughts, beliefs, and emotions – to oneself and others, and is critical for social understanding and interaction. Research has demonstrated that ToM development is linked to social competence, peer relationships, and emotional development in children, with notable differences observed between children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and neurotypical peers. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Teaching Theory of Mind Curriculum (Ordetx, 2012) curriculum in improving ToM capabilities and social functioning in children with ASD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants, aged 7-17, underwent a 6-12 week …

Assessment Of The Genetic Population Structure And Extent Of Clonality In A Rare Serpentine Endemic, Lathyrus Biflorus T.W. Nelson & J.P. Nelson (Fabaceae), Using Ddrad Sequencing, Ashley Dickinson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Lathyrus biflorus, or the two-flowered pea, is a rare herbaceous perennial restricted to a single population in Northern California. The species is considered critically imperiled but remains unprotected under state or federal endangered species acts. Despite its rarity, little is known about its life history, reproductive biology, or genetic diversity. Using genome-wide reduced representation sequencing, this study aimed to address these gaps by investigating the molecular evidence of clonality, the number and diversity of genets (unique genetic individuals which can be made up of one or many clonal units or ramets), and overall genetic health of the population. My …

Who Are We Restoring Maunalua For? Place Name Resurgence And Environmental Restoration In Maunalua, O‘Ahu, Cassidy J. Hollenbeck

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

While numerous research studies have been published in recent decades on biological degradation and climate risks facing Maunalua, very few studies have centered on the sociopolitical dimensions of this region. By celebrating community pilina (intimacy, relationship) and biocultural restoration in Maunalua, this project aims to challenge the dominant narratives of degradation on this region. Centering Decolonizing and Kanaka ‘Ōiwi methodologies, this project builds on N. Ha‘alilo Solomon’s book chapter, Maunalua: Shifting Nomenclatures and the Reconfiguration of Space in Hawaii Kai (2022), celebrating ongoing projects of inoa ‘āina (place name) resurgence. Engaging snowball sampling in qualitative community-based participatory research methods, I …

The Impact Of Plant-Based Diets On Erythrocyte Function, Oxidative Stress, And Vascular Inflammation In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Walter G. Craig

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder with diverse etiological contributors, characterized by insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and an increased risk of vascular complications. While much research has focused on plasma and serum markers of metabolic dysfunction, the role of erythrocytes in diabetic pathophysiology remains underexplored. This review examines the impact of dietary macronutrient composition, particularly plant-based diets, on erythrocyte function, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation in T2DM. Red blood cells (RBCs) are not only oxygen carriers but also dynamic regulators of immune and inflammatory responses, with structural and functional alterations playing a critical role …

An Assessment Of The California Logging Workforce, Kendra Jean Gerstenberg

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

There is limited literature describing the capacity and capabilities of the logging workforce in California. This study examines the logging workforce in California to quantify the number of logging crews, assess demographic diversity, and evaluate capacity and capabilities. The target population was California Licensed Timber Operators (LTOs) who have the legal right to harvest timber. A survey was developed and distributed to LTOs on the CAL FIRE database. Surveys were also distributed at regional logging conferences or collected by phone. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and emergent coding for follow-up interviews was conducted. There …

"Gen Z Climate Being": Podcast Series On Youth, Climate Emotions, And Affective Climate Justice, Rachel Wynne Moszkowicz

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

My project is a co-created 6 part podcast series with youth and the program lead from the Climate Mental Health Network’s Gen Z Advisory Board informed by affective climate justice, youth, mental health and education. This work foregrounds the embodied climate knowing and being of youth climate activists, offers ideas for a different relationship to climate change and climate education futures. In this podcast, Gen Zers speak to the youth mental health crisis as it relates to climate. My thesis project engages with and invites conversations that reflect the climate itself, which is non-linear, complex, porous, creative, expansive, and woven …

An Evaluation Of Fuel Model Accuracy And Multi-Scale Mitigation Strategies In The Wildland-Urban Interface Of Southern Humboldt County, Julia I. Cavalli

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Strategic placement of fuel treatments is critical for mitigating wildfire risk and reducing potential structure losses in wildland-urban interface (WUI) communities. As wildfire activity accelerates across the western United States, the need to identify high-impact fuel treatment locations grows increasingly urgent. Concurrently, housing development in the WUI is expanding, intensifying the exposure of homes and infrastructure to wildfire threats. In response, many communities are looking to mitigate the likelihood and severity of losses during wildfire events. The success of these efforts depends, in part, on robust data to support strategic placement of effective treatments that reduce fuel availability.

This study …

A Review Of Contact Dependent Interactions Among Encrusting Bryozoans, Sheena Emily Stephens-Norton

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This review of published literature is focused on bryozoan interactions and discusses overgrowths, “stalemates,” erect bi-laminate growths and fusions. Overgrowths, where one colony grows zooids atop another, have received the most attention in the scientific literature. Stalemates, where two colonies cease growth at the region of contact, have received relatively little research investigating the possible reasons for its occurrence. Erect, bi-laminate growth, following inter- and/or intraspecific contact between colonies, has also received little research, but could reflect mutualistic behavior of encrusting species to increase feeding and reproduction. Fusion of self-self-contacts appears common, yet non-self-fusions to form natural chimeras may also …

Groundwater Pumping Impacts On Stream Depletion In Humboldt County, Ca: Integrating Analytical Models And Field Data, Andy Hans Heise

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study addresses the significant concern of stream depletion from groundwater pumping in Humboldt County, CA. The objective of this study is to develop an analytical model for estimating stream depletion and integrating field data into model parameters.

The methodology involved conducting a field study near three operating wells by a stream, installing stream gages upstream and downstream of the wells, and recording pumping rates and schedules for two of the wells. The third well’s pumping data was synthetically generated, for privacy concerns of the well owner. The StreamDepletR package was used for estimating depletion rates in a stream in …

Twice-Exceptionalism And The Complexity Of Supporting Students Who Are Both Gifted And Disabled, River Johnathon Taylor

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Drawing on ideas from disabilities studies about compulsory able-bodiedness as well as experiences of disability being fluid and context dependent, this study posits that giftedness, just like disability, is a complex multidimensional form of identity that is both context and temporally dependent. Twice-exceptionalism is defined as an identity in which an individual is gifted in at least one domain of human productivity and manifests at least one disability. Students with unique learning needs (students with disabilities, students with giftedness, and students with twice-exceptionalism) face many complex challenges within Humboldt County, California. Twenty-five educators from Humboldt County working across all grade …

Exploring Coastal Spaces Of Tribal Sovereignty And Self-Determination In Ancestral Waters Proposed For Offshore Wind Development, Alyssa Suarez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Proposed offshore wind development off California’s North Coast raises novel questions about Tribal sovereignty offshore. This project specifically engages claims, assuming the Yurok Tribe’s framing that offshore wind development poses a coastal hazard. The research followed a co-production framework. The research questions were co-designed with the Yurok Tribe and the research itself governed by a Data Sharing Agreement. The work presents findings from 13 semi-structured interviews with individuals and experts navigating sovereignty in the offshore wind space, including government representatives; lawyers; legal researchers; academics; foundation staff; journalists; and Humboldt Bay community members. Participants identified several key tensions surrounding claims of …

Patterns Of Tree Damage And Fuels Around Powerlines In Northern California, Zoe J. Ziegler

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Rural powerlines are critical for delivering electricity to communities far from urban areas but present a significant hazard when located in forested regions. During strong wind events, tree failure (i.e., broken branches, snapped stems, and windthrow) can bring combustible material in contact with high-voltage lines, causing electrical outages or setting fire to vegetation below the powerline. Additionally, elevated forest fuel loading can increase wildfire rate of spread and intensity, potentially increasing negative ecosystem impacts and decreasing containment capacity during powerline- ignited wildfires. The risks associated with rural electrical infrastructure, tree failure, and elevated fuel loading emphasize the need for improved …

Home Range, Habitat Use, And Fall Migration Of Lewis’S Woodpeckers In The Eastern Cascade Range, Oregon, Cameron Piper

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Lewis’s woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis), a burn specialist, is experiencing range-wide population declines despite increasing fire activity in the western U.S. The White River Wildlife Area in Oregon hosts the state's only year-round population, raising questions about their breeding, habitat use, and migration. In summer 2024, we tracked nine woodpeckers using telemetry to estimate home range size and overlap. Full home ranges averaged 428 ha, with 66 ha core areas, and showed evidence of growing after nesting. Home ranges overlapped extensively (Full: 91 ± 13%; Core: 63 ± 29%), though individuals had distinct areas of intense use. Males had …

The Masa That Holds Us: Indigenous Epistemologies And The Food We Share, Necahual Gamboa

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The U.S. higher education system is built on histories and infrastructures of colonization, white supremacy, and western imperialism. Among many of the institutions produced from a history of domination and genocide, the systems of higher education need to shift their focus to decolonial frameworks including Indigenous epistemologies (ways of knowing and being) in order to work toward true reparations between these imperial systems and the Indigenous people they have displaced and disregarded. This project brings these systems into question, but also uses art, prose, and storytelling to better align with what it means or what it could look like to …

Testosterone Reactivity And Parental Care Motivation In Men As A Function Of Parental Status, Nathan Boone

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Paternal investment and caregiving quality have lasting impacts on children's well-being. Children with sensitive, involved fathers typically develop more secure attachments and have fewer behavioral and psychological problems than children with less sensitive and involved fathers. While the importance of fathers’ engagement with their children is well established, the biological mechanisms that underpin paternal behavior are not fully understood. Previous research has found that baseline testosterone levels and testosterone reactivity to infant stimuli are both relevant predictors of paternal sensitivity. Short-term decreases in testosterone in nurturant contexts, and short-term increases in testosterone in challenging contexts have both been linked to …

Can We Help Coast Redwood Adapt To Climate Change? A Provenance Study On Genetic Variation And Climate Transfer Distance, Aidan J. Murphy

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The climate is changing more rapidly than many species can adapt or migrate. Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is a unique, long-lived conifer and remains California’s most valuable and economically important timber species. The species is threatened in its natural range due to anthropogenic climate change and human activity. Redwood favors asexual reproduction which restricts its ability to migrate naturally. The consequences of asexual reproduction when faced with a rapidly changing climate may make some form of assisted migration necessary for long-lived organisms like redwood.

This study evaluates drivers of variation in redwood growth and the influence of climate …

The Menstrual Cycle, Dual-Hormone Hypothesis, And Competition: Implications For Athletic Performance, Camille Burns

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Female athletes perceive that the fluctuating hormones of the menstrual cycle affect their performance. However, research on objective performance is inconclusive, partly due to a lack of studies conducted in real-world competitive contexts. Testosterone is often seen to be elevated near ovulation and is related to social competitiveness. Under the dual-hormone hypothesis, testosterone only predicts competitive behavior when cortisol is low. The current study had two goals: (1) to test whether the dual-hormone hypothesis applied to competitive drive and objective athletic performance, and (2) to examine whether competitiveness and the intensity of one’s response to competition varied across the menstrual …

Uncertainty Reduction As An Underlying Motive For Optimal Distinctiveness, Chad Hinojosa

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Uncertainty-identity theory and optimal distinctiveness theory posit separate but related motives for social identity. Whereas there has been evidence supporting each theory, little research has investigated the overlap between the two. More specifically, the needs for assimilation (belonging) and differentiation (uniqueness) as postulated by the optimal distinctiveness model may be understood as derivatives of the desire to reduce uncertainty in one’s self and future. In this study, I investigated the overlap between these three motives for social identity by experimentally testing the mediating effect of self-uncertainty on the relationship between the needs posited by optimal distinctiveness and social identity. Participants …

Effects Of Teacher Reinforcements On Student Outcomes In Adapted Physical Education: A Meta-Analysis, Yaxeny Moreno

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The primary goal is to review the influence of reinforcement strategies in Physical Education (PE) and Adapted Physical Education (APE) settings, focusing on students with disabilities with the ages of 3-22. Reinforcement strategies, such as positive reinforcement/feedback, token economies, verbal praise, tangible rewards, and additional strategies are essential for fostering engagement and skill development. Literature has provided evidence and results to highlight the importance of applying evidence-based reinforcement strategies to which support the behavioral, social, and physical development of students in both Physical Education and Adapted P.E. settings. The purpose of this study was to review and analyze existing literature …