Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Community Assembly Across Environmental Gradients: Contrasting Patterns Of Funtional Convergence And Divergence In California Coastal Grasslands, Ernesto Chavez- Velasco

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Elucidating how plant community assembly processes interact across spatial scales to shape ecosystem function remains a central challenge in ecology. These processes are often hierarchical, with broad scale environmental filters constraining the composition of local communities. I investigated these hierarchical processes across three California coastal grassland sites spanning a ~1000 km gradient. At these sites, I measured community composition, standing biomass, four functional traits (plant height, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, and leaf lobedness), and estimated species’ environmental niches. To identify assembly mechanisms, I used null models to assess functional convergence or divergence and scaled these patterns with …

Lineation To Liberation: The Transformative Power Of Poetic Rhetoric, Amber Rae Alvarez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project explores the transformative power of poetic rhetoric and examines how poetry as a form of expressive art serves as a means of reclamation in the aftermath of encounters with the American criminal justice system. I contend that poetry provides a space where folks can reimagine (and reclaim) their identities, asserting their agency in empowering and authentic ways. Taking a Cultural Studies and Critical Prison Studies informed approach, this project engages the concept of lineation to liberation to conduct a close reading analysis of artist (Reginald) Dwayne Betts’ poetry. Betts’ work not only provides a powerful example of how …

From Spark To Wildfire: Predicting Wildfire Origins And The Efficacy Of “Fire Safe” Cigarettes In California Grasslands, Trevor Blackwell Haltermann

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As wildfires in North America increase in size and frequency, the societal impacts become greater as well. With greater risk and high fire suppression costs it is pertinent to improve fire investigation methods and limit the potential for human caused ignitions. Two distinct studies were carried out to assess the accuracy of fire pattern indicators and the efficacy of “fire safe” cigarette technology in lowland grass fuel types in California. The first study utilized 24 experimental small-scale fires within a wind tunnel to examine the accuracy of microscale fire pattern indicators and the factors that influence the accuracy of predictions …

Impacts Of Autistic Traits On Student Evaluations Of Professors, Matias Solorzano

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Instructor evaluations are critical to the tenure process in academia, but are biased against autistic individuals in academic settings. This study addresses how instructor evaluations are impacted by the gender of the professor, whether the instructor discloses their autism identity, and the gender of the student evaluator in a 2 Professor Gender (Male or Female) x 2 Autism Identity (Disclosed v. Not Disclosed) x 2 Student Gender (Male or Female) between-subjects design. It was hypothesized that male professors will be rated higher than female professors, that disclosing one’s autism identity leads to higher evaluations than non disclosure, and that female …

An Analysis Of Uv Disinfection Of Municipal Wastewater Following Natural Treatment Systems, Jonathan Andrew Kirchubel

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

On January 30, 2024, the City of Arcata replaced chlorine with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation as its disinfection method for treating its wastewater prior to discharging to Humboldt Bay. The Arcata wastewater treatment facility (AWTF) utilizes natural treatment systems for treating its secondary effluent, which can provide issues for UV disinfection through variance in turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), pH, humic acids, and color. This project aimed to identify whether the water quality characteristics of natural treatment systems in the AWTF would impact UV disinfection of municipal wastewater.

Thirty-one sampling periods occurred between June 8, 2024, and March 1, 2025, recording …

Effects Of Teacher Reinforcements On Student Outcomes In Adapted Physical Education: A Systematic Review, Juliana Jamison-Espinoza

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This systematic review examined the effectiveness of various reinforcement strategies on student outcomes in adapted physical education (APE) settings for individuals with disabilities. A comprehensive literature search spanning from 1979 to 2024 across six databases identified 18 studies meeting inclusion criteria, involving 140 participants aged 3–22 with diverse physical and cognitive disabilities. Reinforcement strategies evaluated included token economies, verbal praise, tangible rewards, and alternative techniques such as video modeling and peer-mediated interventions. Outcomes measured were categorized into affective states, behavioral improvements, and cognitive gains. Results showed mixed effectiveness across studies: while 7 of the 18 studies reported significant improvements in …

Evaluating The Effects Of Memory Aids On Conversational Behaviors In Older Adults With Cognitive Decline And Their Caregivers, Sarah B. Romero Pavon

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As the baby boomer generation (individuals born between 1946 and 1964) continues to age into late adulthood, the need for resources and care related to aging is in high demand. Age-related neurocognitive decline (NCD) is broadly characterized by a gradual decrease in one’s ability to think, remember, and reason. Loss of speech and coherent conversation is a common challenge for older adults with neurocognitive decline, often marked by an increase in nonspecific pronoun use, frequent and sudden shifts in topic, and repetition, which can lead to a decrease in activity engagement, less social interaction with peers, and social isolation. Memory …

Patterns Of Kinship And Sociality In North American River Otters, Whitney E. Vickers

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Previous studies of river otters (Lontra canadensis) in coastal Humboldt County, California have documented varying social group compositions over the last four decades. It has been assumed that otters travel between coastal wetland sites, but the extent of movement has been unknown. Socially, river otters have been observed alone, in small family groups that consisted of an otter mom and pup(s), in larger helper groups that consisted of an otter mom, pup(s), and at least one additional adult or juvenile (helpers), and in all-adult social groups. Until now it was unknown whether the composition of social groups was …

Common Raven Habitat Selection Along The Northern California Coast, Alon Averbuj

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Nest predation by common ravens (Corvus corax) is considered one of the most significant barriers to the recovery of the population of the federally threatened western snowy plovers (Anarhyncus nivosus nivosus) in Northern California. To increase productivity of snowy plovers, conservation managers in Northern California employ three main techniques; placing symbolic fencing to deter pedestrian entrance to snowy plover nesting areas, invasive vegetation cutback, and deposition of oyster shells to increase snowy plover nest crypsis. However, little is known on how these techniques affect habitat selection of ravens in the area. I modeled habitat selection of …

The Fragile Fabric Of Society: An Insight Into Religion In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Tomislav Tadić

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The question of the social function of religion is undoubtedly one of the most important questions at the level of global social ontology. In this context, the sociology of religion turns out to be one of the most significant branches within contemporary sociology. Bearing in mind the events that mark the current global political situation, especially the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the need to rethink the relationship between ethnicity and religion as a special expression of the crisis of secularity within the limits of the "radicalized consequences of modernity" further intensifies. The paper is composed of two parts: 1) …

Operation “Prophets” Or Integration Of Pentecostals Into The Structures Of The Aucecb By The Nkgb-Kgb, Александр Коротаев

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The purpose of this article is to expose the work of the Soviet special services, which was directly aimed at incorporating the Pentecostals of the USSR into the structure of the All-Union Council of Evangelical Christians and Baptists (AUCEC&B). It reveals the mechanisms, forms, and methods used by the Soviet special services (NKGB-KGB) to achieve this incorporation. It has been proven that this process was purely coercive in nature and was directly intended to eliminate Pentecostals as a denomination, using Evangelical Christians and Baptists (ECB) as a means to that end.

Transformations Of Religious Consciousness Of Ukrainians In The 1990s, Bogdan Sulyatytskyy

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article analyses the transformation of religious consciousness of Ukrainians during the first decade of the post-Soviet period. It identifies the socio-cultural, economic and political factors that influenced the formation of a new attitude of Ukrainian citizens towards religion. It is noted that in the 1990s, a distinction between ethnic and religious identity occurred in the religious consciousness of Ukrainians, which contributed to the rapid transformation of Ukraine from a historically Christian (mainly Orthodox) country into a poly-confessional one. During this period, new syncretic mental structures were formed, radically different from the established traditional religious ones, in which elements of …

The Religious Factor In The Imperial Judicial Policy Of The Right-Bank Ukraine (1797-1830), Andrii Shevchuk, Oksana Markevych

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The article examines the religious factor in the imperial judicial policy on the territory of Right-Bank Ukraine (1797-1830). The transformation of the region's judicial system after its incorporation into the Russian Empire is analyzed through the prism of confessional relations. On the basis of archival materials and published sources, the peculiarities of the functioning of judicial institutions in the context of religious stratification of society are revealed. The specifics of staffing of judicial institutions by representatives of different denominations, particularly the dominance of the Catholic szlachta (nobility) in the county and major courts, are highlighted. The author traces the evolution …

Islam, Memory, And Denial: Preserving Bosniak Identity After The Srebrenica Genocide, Alek Barović

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The role of the Bosniak Islamic Community in preserving identity and collective memory of the Srebrenica genocide remains a subject of ongoing debate among Bosniaks in Bosnia, the wider Balkan region, and the diaspora. This paper explores how Bosniaks perceive the Islamic Community’s efforts in shaping and sustaining post-genocide identity through religious, cultural, and educational initiatives. By analyzing narratives from survivors, religious leaders, and community members, this study investigates whether the Islamic Community is seen as a central institution in the preservation of historical memory or as one actor among many in the broader struggle against denial and historical revisionism. …

Frontmatter (Volume 45, Issue 4), Paul B. Mojzes

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.

The Transformation Of Religious Consciousness And Spiritual Practices Of Ukrainians During The Soviet Anti-Religious Campaign In The Khrushchev Thaw Period, Galyna Starodubets Doctor Of Historical Sciences (Dr. Hab. In History), Professor, Oleksandra Stasiuk Doctor Of Historical Sciences (Dr. Hab. In History)

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the changes in religious consciousness and daily religious practices of Soviet Ukrainians during the so-called Khrushchev Thaw, based on sociological interviews. It is emphasized that despite the intensified atheistic propaganda and the closure of churches, religion remained a significant factor in people's lives. Religious beliefs were deeply embedded in the Ukrainian worldview, shaping their way of thinking and everyday life, which, in turn, influenced the norms and patterns of religious behavior. Risking harassment from their superiors or even losing their jobs, people continued to attend services, baptize their children, and celebrate religious holidays. Family upbringing traditions played …

Faith, Freedom, And Friction: The Intersection Of Intimate Citizenship And Religion In Central And Eastern Europe, Evelina Juchnevičiūtė Ms.

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Intimate citizenship, a dimension of citizenship that emerged from the second wave of feminism, refers to rights related to intimate life, including women’s reproductive rights, same-sex relationships, and other related rights. In Central and Eastern Europe, these rights have been shown to come into conflict with the region’s deeply embedded religious values that have historically shaped societal norms around reproduction, gender, and sexuality. The present study employed a mixed-method systematic literature review, combining bibliometric and thematic analyses, to examine academic literature on the intersection of intimate citizenship and religion in Central and Eastern Europe. The review covered the period 1990-2024 …

The Role Of The Subject “Ethics In Religions” In Shaping Value Systems Among Primary School Students In Contemporary Macedonian Society, Aneta Jovkovska, Aneta Barakoska, Gjoko Gjorgjevski

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This study analyzes the integration of religious education within current school curricula in contemporary Macedonian society, focusing on the Ethics in Religions program for sixth grade, and its influence on the development of students’ value systems. Through an interdisciplinary lens incorporating pedagogy, theology, and psychology, the research investigates the capacity of this curriculum to nurture ethical reasoning, empathy, and social responsibility. The analysis examines the program's learning outcomes, content, and alignment with National Standards, evaluating its potential for spiritual growth, moral identity formation, and community commitment. The findings underscore the program’s unique contribution to value-based education and its potential role …

Saint Paisius Of Hilendar – The Bulgarian Jesus, Son Of Sirach, Ivaylo Naydenov

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

Despite a temporal gap of nearly twenty centuries, a comparative analysis of Jesus, Son of Sirach, and Saint Paisius of Hilendar reveals striking thematic and ideological parallels. Both authors, writing in times of cultural and political upheaval, sought to reaffirm religious and national identity in response to external pressures—Hellenization in the case of Sirach and Greek influence within the Ottoman Empire for Paisius. Their works emphasize wisdom, historical consciousness, and spiritual resilience as tools for social and national revival. By situating their narratives within broader historical and theological frameworks, they provide models of cultural resistance that transcend their immediate contexts.

Revival Of Tengrism In Kazakhstan As Ancient Belief Of The Kazakh Nation: Prospects And Challenges, Jolaman Bulan, Tussipkhan Imammadi, Aiymzhan Ryskiyeva, Asset Kuranbek

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This research investigates the resurgence of Tengrism, an ancestral belief system native to Kazakhstan. This traditional religion, rooted in ancient history, encompasses an array of beliefs and rituals that focus on the worship of celestial deity known as Tengri and various forces of nature. It provides a thorough analysis of how public attitudes towards Tengrism and its role within the cultural fabric of the Kazakh people have shifted. The paper also addresses the circumstances that have facilitated Tengrism's revival in the independent nation of Kazakhstan, including issues of national identity, cultural heritage, and spiritual rejuvenation. Furthermore, it explores a range …

On Resisting The Allure Of Political Idolatry, Paul B. Mojzes, Beth Admiraal

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.