Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center

The Effects of Chiropractic Adjustments on Human Tap Reaction Time

Cynthia Adams* (1), Richard Westbrook DC (2), & Dr. Arlene Haffa PhD (1)

(1) School of Natural Sciences, California State University Monterey Bay (2) New Beginnings Health Care, Monterey, CA

Chiropractic adjustments are spinal manipulations that change the positioning of vertebrae to relieve pressure on nerves. Nerve impingement can result in multiple negative health consequences. This research is evaluating the result of chiropractic adjustment on human tap reaction time. The hypothesis is that reaction time will be improved (faster) after a chiropractic adjustment due to the repositioning of nerve fibers, allowing them to fire without infringement or hindrance. Subjects were evaluated on their tap reaction time speed using an online program. The online program tests subject reaction time 5 times and takes the average. This evaluation was completed before and after receiving a chiropractic adjustment. The data was evaluated using a standard statistical T-test to determine significance. If significance is proven, this will mean that chiropractic adjustments are beneficial in improving human motor function, specifically tap reaction time. At the current time, results are inconclusive to whether manual manipulative therapy can improve the human motor skill of reaction time.

Hands-on or Hands-off? Observing family interactions in a children’s museum

Natassia Aleman-Teweles*, Brandon Garcia*, April Regalado*, & Dr. Jennifer Dyer-Seymour

Psychology, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA

The nature of hands-on children's museums is based on the idea that knowledge is socially and culturally developed. A family unit visiting a children’s museum can play and learn, individually and collectively. Interaction is especially important between child and parent, as studies show that parental guidance through different modes of play may have an influence on the child’s learning. This study focused on family interactions in an educational museum. Over a two month period, behavior in a free pop-up children’s museum was assessed through naturalistic observations and in-person interviews of over 200 families. Based on prior studies, it is anticipated that results will show variation in behavior associated with age, gender, and culture. Variation across families has interesting implications for maximizing learning in a children’s museum. These findings may benefit parents, early educators, and children’s museum designers interested in supporting children’s learning.

Building Scholarly Identity: The Benefits of Undergraduate Research

Lily Amador*, Itzel Godinez*, & Heather Haeger

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center, California State University, Monterey Bay

Students who participate in undergraduate research feel more confident in pursuing their academic and career goals. It is important to also understand how these experiences shape a student’s scholarly identity and what factors increase the connection students feel to their discipline. To understand how course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) as well as out-of-class, mentored research experiences influence students’ scholarly identities, we conducted four CURE focus groups with 22 participants and 13 individual interviews with undergraduate researchers. We also analyzed written reflections from students in CUREs about whether or not they identify as a scientist.We are in the process of analyzing those focus groups, reflections, and interviews and coding them for reoccurring themes. Preliminary results suggest that mentoring plays a huge role in the development of scholarly identity by reinforcing confidence and providing validation. The skills obtained by students in CUREs also help them feel better prepared for their future academic and professional careers. We have determined that if we are to promote mentor relationships and provide helpful research based courses that students have the opportunity to cement their professional identity.

Competition Strategies of  Macrocystis Pyrifera and Sargassum Horneri: Invasion By Sea

Sehar S. Alinaeem* (1) & Ann Bishop (2)

(1) California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp) forests are the most widely distributed taxon, and provide a basis for some of the most important subtidal ecosystems in Southern California. Unfortunately, due to environmental stressors (including El Niño events), the once thriving Catalina population has been nearly eradicated and displaced by an invasive species from Asia, Sargassum horneri. Due to the pertinence of Macrocystis in marine environments, it is important that research is conducted that will expand our knowledge on the recovery of this species. To investigate this recovery, the reproductive strategies of Macrocystis pyrifera must be observed. Samples of Macrocystis pyrifera from four different sites on Catalina Island (collected by mentor Ann Bishop) have been dyed using Methylene Blue dye and cleared with 1% HCL (the dying of this samples allows for clearer visibility when looking at samples under a microscope). These dyed samples, are then waxed, cross sectioned, and observed under a microscope for their reproductive haploid phase, gametophytes. These gametophyte counts are recorded and compared to other cross sectioned samples of Sargassum horneri. This comparison creates data which allows for the monitoring of the reproductive activity of the species, showing us how successfully the Macrocystis pyrifera population is recovering compared to Sargassum horneri on Catalina Island.

Protocol for extracting marine parasitic DNA

Randi Barton* & Alison Haupt

School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay

Understanding dispersal capability of parasites is essential to make predictions about how parasites will be affected by local anthropogenic changes. Population genetic analyses of parasitic populations requires extraction of DNA, however the small amount of tissue available creates potential complications. Parasites collected from Acanthurus triostegus species near the island Mo’orea in French Polynesia were used for optimizing the appropriate extraction methods for common marine parasites. Standard Qiagen DNeasy kits, Chelex methods, and CTAB extractions were the three methods tested for success in extracting parasitic DNA. CTAB extractions, or phenol-chloroform extractions, are expected to be the optimal method in extracting parasitic DNA.

Expanding opportunities through CURE (Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences)

Emily Beasley* & Heather Haeger

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center, California State University, Monterey Bay

It is commonly known that research has a higher percentage of STEM constituents than non-STEM. While the percentage in this gap is increasing, it is still not enough to shatter a most widely known stereotype. That is why here at CSUMB, we aim for larger and much more expanded opportunities for students in all fields. We have conducted a survey that specifically inquired about the processes within a course based research program called CURE. Between each provided major of the students (STEM/non-STEM), data can be collected to observe the differences between them. From here, the goal is to gather what in the survey worked for those in non-STEM and what did not in order to make the necessary changes for a much more impactful future.

Affect of the Addition of Water on the Peak Potential of Deep Eutectic Solvents

Haley Booth* & John Goeltz

School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have potential applications in many scientific fields, including biological, chemical, and technological. As water is extremely common in all of these fields, and it tends to have a sometimes unpredictable nature when coupled with certain compounds, it is imperative that the properties of water when mixed with DESs is well documented. We tested water with two different DESs, one that could form hydrogen bonds and one that wouldn’t, in different molar equivalents of water. Using cyclic and square wave voltammetry, we found that an increase in the ratio of water added increased the peak potential of that sample. This could be explained by water’s high capacity as an electrical conductor, and when added to the sample, increased this property of the DES as well. Further research should be done to test whether this increase in peak potential is actually due to the water being added, and not due to a change in pH of the sample.

Gamification and modern pedagogy: How modern game engines can be utilized for the creation of AAA quality education experiences

Drew Bruggman* (1), Natalia Gill (2), Eric Gonzalez Olivares (2), & Dr. Drew Clinkenbeard (2)

(1) Computer Science, Yuba City Community College District, (2) School of Computing & Design, California State University Monterey Bay

The goal of this project is to explore the capacity of modern game engines as a development platform for digital learning environments with compelling visual elements. Over the last decade there has been a growing body of work supporting gamification and 3D virtual learning environments as effective implementations for improving student motivation and self-efficacy when learning, and as such, the demand for such implements is expected to grow. Additionally, there has been a substantial body of literature that supports a transition towards experiential learning as the future standard for pedagogy across multiple fields, which suggests a need for environments where such learning experiences can take place. Though traditionally the development of visually captivating 3D environments has required a team of specialists (driving up the cost and development time for said projects), the prevalence of open-source, high-performance development environments has provided an opportunity for even laymen to develop highly interactive, visually compelling learning experiences. Through this lens, a team of undergraduate programmers was tasked with learning and developing an aquarium-based simulation called VATS (Virtual Aquarium Tank System) in Unreal Engine for use as an educational virtual environment.

eDNA Fallout: Analyzing eDNA Concentrations of Molluscs in the Marine Environment

David Calderon* (1), Emily Pierce (2), & Jon Geller (2)

(1) California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Marine organisms release DNA into the surrounding aquatic environment, which is referred to as environmental DNA or eDNA. Sources of eDNA in the aquatic environment include feces, mucus, carcasses, gametes, and other bioactive compounds from these organisms, which can stay present in the water for weeks. We are studying the persistence of eDNA in the environment, and how the prevalence of eDNA relates to the abundance of source organisms. Three different mollusc species were analyzed at two different densities of eDNA from small, medium, and large specimens of each mollusc species. Then the eDNA was placed under similar UV radiation from the sun and climate conditions to compare the effects of UV radiation and temperature on eDNA for each species. Three different mollusc species: the intertidal limpet (Lottia digitalis), the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens), and the California blue mussel (Mytilus californianus) were analyzed at two different population groups of eDNA from small, medium, and large specimens of each mollusc species. Then the eDNA was placed under similar UV radiation from the sun and climate conditions to compare the effects of UV radiation and temperature on eDNA for each species. The data from this information was used to formulate rate of decay for each individual species. These methods could be adapted to help detect eDNA of endangered invertebrates, such as the owl limpet Lottia gigantea, black abalone Haliotis cracherodii, and the white abalone H. sorenseni. Identifying eDNA through molecular techniques could be an inexpensive monitoring tool that will expedite monitoring marine organisms.

The correlation of aquatic juvenile and aerial adults in the Salinas River with and without Arundo donax.

Jonathon Carmichael* & Dr. John R. Olson

School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay

The Arundo donax is an invasive species has been present in the Salinas River since 1820 and has impacted the freshwater ecology of the Salinas River. The purpose of this study is to explore the proportions of aquatic juveniles and the aerial adult stages of macro invertebrates in Arundo donax concentrated areas. To quantify the results, we plan to use D frame nets for aquatic juveniles and sticky traps for aerial adults. Based on the invertebrate’s life histories, we expect that aquatic juveniles and aerial adults will be disconnected from each other due to the taxa present emerging from the water prior to sampling and thus won’t be in the water. We also expect that there will be a gradient of aquatic and terrestrial organisms as the distance from water increases. The juvenile taxa we collect will likely be more tolerant to the effects of Arundo donax on the ecosystem, whereas the adults may vary based on their life history. The presence of Arundo donax reshapes ecological river habitats, placing stress on life cycles of aquatic macroinvertebrates, providing an environment to organisms that can tolerate substandard conditions, lowering the diversity.

A comparative analysis of Canadian and Japanese shark conservation legislation with recommendations for Japanese legislation

Marissa Castro* & Ajit Abraham

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center, California State University, Monterey Bay

Over 100 million sharks a year are killed due to the high demand of fins for an ancient Chinese delicacy called shark fin soup. This expensive soup has spread across the world, increasing the demand and causing the exploitation of sharks. Shark populations are also being threatened by overfishing, slow sexual maturity rates, and by-catch. Canada and Japan have followed the recommendations of The United Nations Food and Agriculture Association legislative act called The International Plan of Action for sharks. This act provides a framework for a National Plan of Action for sharks. Reviewing scientific literature, ambiguities, and inadequacies in Canadian and Japanese legislation may aid in new legislation, supported by statistics. Canada became the first G20 country to ban the trade of shark fins. Although expected to decrease, demand still remains high and increasing on the black market. Countries should begin to follow the steps taken by Canada to restore shark populations before irreversible effects occur. There may be ways to create more strict legislation in Japan for shark conservation while still preserving their cultural practices and benefiting the environment.

An exploration of self-reported suicidality and suicide-related behaviors across gender and ethnic groups in a forensic inpatient sample

Emily Cordova* (1), Amanda Hansen (1), Chloe Patch (1), Danielle Burchett (1) & David Glassmire (2)

(1) Department of Psychology, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Patton State Hospital

Suicide is a leading cause of death and many studies suggest rates differ across gender and cultural groups. Extant literature has found the MMPI-2-RF Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI) Scale is an effective predictor of future suicide-related behaviors and exhibits few differences in predictive validity across gender or ethnic groups. In this study, we explore rates of self-reported suicidality (at the SUI item level) and documented suicide-related behaviors across gender and ethnic groups to examine whether extant literature on gender- and culture-related differences in suicidality reporting and suicide-related behaviors is replicated in a forensic inpatient setting (valid n = 372). Further, we compared the strength of associations between SUI items and documented (a) self-aggression/suicide attempts and (b) suicide threats across gender and cultural groups. As hypothesized, Latinx patients were less likely than Caucasian or African American patients to have documented self-aggression/suicide attempts. However, there were no ethnic group differences in documented suicide threats. African American patients demonstrated low endorsement rates for several SUI items. Few gender differences in SUI item endorsement were observed, except that women were more likely to report they wish they were dead (Item 120). Associations between SUI items and self-aggression/suicide attempts were somewhat stronger for men (statistically significant phi range: .12 to .20) whereas associations between SUI items and suicide threats were stronger for women (statistically significant phi range: .28 to .41). Small cell sizes limited the reliability of some results. Such limitations as well as unsupported hypotheses will be discussed. Overall, these findings suggest important SUI item-level gender differences in predictive validity to consider, consistent with well-established patterns of suicide-related behaviors across genders.

Connectedness to campus: How does this affect students, staff, and faculty?

Abigail Correa*, Frederick Siglar, & Dr. Jennifer Lovell

California State University, Monterey Bay

Campus climate has the ability to influence the well-being of the University community. Stress among students, staff, and faculty can be associated with negative mental health symptoms.The connectedness an individual feels in respect to their university or workplace has been identified by several studies as a predictor of suicidal ideation. Exposure to nature has been linked to an increased sense of campus community, as well as increased physical and mental health. However, a majority of these findings primarily pertain to students, and neglect the experiences of staff and faculty members. Based on past findings, the goal of the current study is to examine the relationship between feelings of connectedness to campus and suicidal ideation among students, staff, and faculty on a University campus. We also sought to understand participant perspectives on how the implementation of outdoor wellness spaces may impact their sense of connectedness to campus. A multi-scale, online questionnaire was administered campus-wide, collecting the perspective and preferences of 867 respondents on the use of outdoor wellness spaces. Findings from this study are anticipated to report differences in connectedness to campus and suicidality between students, staff, and faculty, as well as differences between on-campus and off-campus residents.

Framing Claims about Climate Change

Nicole Cortes* (1) & Amanda Pullum (2)

(1) School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) School of Natural and Social Science, University of California Irvine

This research will be conducted to theorize and understand social movements' framing about climate change. We want to understand how social movements against climate change create the messages that they present to the public. To study this, we will observe local climate organizations and interview activists from these groups. This study is important because it will bring awareness to the issue of climate change itself, provide possible solutions or ideas, and will be a foundation for further research on social movement framing.

Diet and trophic ecology of Hydrolagus colliei utilizing stomach content and stable isotope analysis

Mariah Daniel* (1) & Matthew Jew (2)

(1) Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Department of Ichthyology, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA

A previous study of Hydrolagus colliei describing the trophic ecology and diet along the Central Coast has yet to be completed and is essential to providing additional information regarding the study of the species. Diet reconstruction and estimation of trophic position provides a comprehensive understanding of marine food web complexity and assesses the health of the surrounding ecosystem. This study analyzes prey diversity, food composition in relation to predator size, and differences in diet across regions influenced by sex, size, and depth. Morphometric data and internal weights were collected, individuals were sexed internally and externally, and maturity was categorized by a numeric ranking system. Based on Stomach Content Analysis (SCA) of current data collected, general prey items include species from the Class Gastropoda, Order Decapoda, Class Echinoidea, and Genus Scotoplanes. Accompanied by SCA, Stable Isotope Analysis (SIA) of stable nitrogen and carbon values will further describe food sources and trophic level by directly reflecting assimilated diets of H. colliei. Diet studies provide imperative assessments of individual populations through additional insight to ecosystem health which guide management-based regulations to promote solutions.

Estimating reproductive output in California sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria): Comparison of fecundity quantification using two techniques

Ashley Del Colletti* (1), David M. Stafford (2,3), Neosha S Kashef (2,3), Kevin Di Massa (2), & Susan M. Sogard (3)

(1) California State University, Monterey Bay, (2) Santa Cruz Institute of Marine Science, University of California, Santa Cruz, (3) Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service

Sablefish, commercially important groundfish in the Northeast Pacific, reproduce annually as determinate batch spawners. A comprehensive understanding of their reproductive output is critical for proper management. To determine the relationship between fecundity and size, females (n=31) with vitellogenic eggs were collected off the coast of California and two subsamples of eggs (~0.50 grams) were obtained from each fish for gravimetric fecundity analysis. Two methods were used for quantifying subsamples: traditional manual counting and automated image analysis. As manual counting of fish eggs can be time-consuming, we pilot tested a new method using ImagePro Premier imaging software to automate counting. Both methods were used to quantify samples and timed to compare efficiency. Absolute fecundity increased with increasing size, but there was no effect of size on weight-specific fecundity. The pros and cons of each method will be discussed. This information can be used to better inform the estimation of sablefish reproductive output in future stock assessments.

The Influence of Working Memory Capacity on Eyewitness Recall

Matthew Dunham* & Jill Yamashita

Department of Psychology, California State University, Monterey Bay

Eyewitnesses are often used in the criminal justice system, but have shown their memory to be very unreliable. This unreliability is associated with many factors, such as lineup type and stress. To further explore other potential factors, I am looking at if an individual's working memory capacity (WMC) may influence their ability to accurately recall details of a crime. Due to a higher WMC allowing more information to be processed, I hypothesize a subjects WMC will influence their ability to recall details of a crime. Participants will first watch a short video depicting a crime. I will then test participants WMC by having them complete a digit-span task, which involves participants hearing a set of numbers and verballing recalling those numbers, in order, with an increase in numbers per success. I will receive their WMC (between 1-x), and will then divide participants into three WMC groups: low (below 6), average (6-8) and high (above 8). Participants will then answer a 10 cued question survey relating to details of the crime (what color was a certain item of clothing?). This study will add to the existing literature of potential variables that influence eyewitness unreliability.

A Comparison of Software for Analyzing Isometric Strength Tests

Sophia Fanucchi*, Dr. Eric Martin, & Dr. George Beckham

Kinesiology Department, California State University, Monterey Bay

In an isometric squat test, a subject is in a standardized squat position and pushes with maximum force against an immovable barbell while standing on a force plate. The forces produced by the subject are recorded on a computer and are analyzed using custom software, providing insight into the subjects individual maximum-effort force production. The software packages used for this analysis are generally proprietary and expensive. The free, open source software package “Isometric Analyzer” is designed to analyze force-time data from this test but has not yet been tested for accuracy. The purpose of this study is to compare the accuracy of analyzed data from the Isometric Analyzer software against an Excel Spreadsheet of known accuracy. 14 injury-free collegiate rugby players performed two maximum-effort isometric squat trials. 14 trials were selected at random for analysis. These trials were analyzed in both softwares and outputted values were compared. These values were compared using visual inspection and with descriptive statistics. Of the trials that could be correctly analyzed with the spreadsheet, the values between the two softwares were almost identical with minor rounding errors. During the analysis, 5 trials in the Isometric Analyzing Software did not match the values in the spreadsheet, this was later determined to have been caused by the analysis spreadsheet having a larger start of contraction threshold. A few trials were not used for comparison due to the spreadsheet not being robust to the baseline data. The Isometric Analyzer proved to be an accurate analyzing software.

Breaking a Regression Model Can be a Key for Higher Power in Hormesis Hypothesis Testing

Jenel Fraij* (1) & Steven Kim (2)

(1) Mathematics, Hartnell College (2) Mathematics & Statistics, California State University, Monterey Bay

In cancer studies, the common assumption is that the probability of developing cancer increases when we increase the dose of carcinogen, and this is referred to as the monotonic assumption. Alternatively, some researchers argue that the probability of developing cancer might decrease at low doses and increase at high doses, and this is referred to as the hormetic assumption. In our research we develop dose-response models to test for the hormetic assumption. We explore three different models. Model 1 is a well-known logistic regression model with a quadratic term that can model both monotonic and hormetic assumptions with three parameters. Unlike model 1, model 2 allows discontinuity between the control dose and the other non-zero experimental doses, and it has three parameters as well. Model 3 also allows discontinuity, but it adds flexibility by having a fourth parameter. Our goal is to compare the characteristics of each model under various scenarios by simulations using the statistical software R. When model 1 was true, indeed it performed the best. When model 2 was true, it performed the best in some cases, but model 3 performed better than model 2 in other cases. When model 3 was true, models 2 and 3 were competitive, but model 1 was not acceptable. We recommend model 3 to be the best model as it produces slightly higher powers than the other two models. Indeed, further studies should be done using other models in order to come up with stronger conclusions about the hormetic assumption.

Using Camera Traps to assess the Effectiveness of Wildlife Corridors

Iris Garcia* & Citlalli Gonzalez*

School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, University of California, Santa Cruz Fort Ord Natural Reserve

In 1997, a Habitat Management Plan (HMP) was created designating conservation areas and corridor systems that would permit species movement between habitats on the Former Fort Ord army base in Marina, California (U.S Army Corps of Engineer, Sacramento District 1997). The UCSC Fort Ord Natural Reserve (FONR) has three separate parcels that surround the Imjin Parkway and Reservation Rd. intersection in Marina. I am interested in determining if the corridor planning contained in the HMP functions as intended by seeing which animals are using these paths of travel, and how frequently. More specifically, I will be focusing on bobcats. I am also testing how frequent bobcats cross two lane roads compared to four lane roads. Although we have no concrete data on animals crossing the roads, local law enforcement and FONR management have informed me that wildlife is associated with road kill on these congested roads. My partner and I placed cameras at specific locations where we documented several repeated prints, animal scratches, torn fencing, and trails leading out to the roads showing that it was heavily used by wildlife. We placed an additional camera parallel to the road facing the trails to determine if the animal made a successful cross from one side of the road to the other. We continued to do this for about 10 different locations. The cameras capture three photos within a three second interval by sensing motion and infrared sensors to capture wildlife when they are the most active, which is at night. The cameras are checked weekly are organized by tagging the photos into a metadata. We are still collecting data, but we are planning on using a probabilistic method into determining the success of wildlife crossings. In addition, we are observing the attempts and hesitations of fauna crossing the roads. With our findings, we can demonstrate to city planners and FONR management which specific corridors bobcats frequently use to cross and suggest locations where we can provide safe crossings such as an underpass would ultimately be the most useful to protect bobcat habitats in Marina.

Data interpolation using island boundaries and urchin density

Liana Gaspar* (1), Marisa Lovos* (1), & Joshua Smith (2)

(1) School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz

Spatial data interpolation is widely used as a method for estimating unknown values based on the surrounding neighborhood of sampled locations. However, data interpolation is most commonly employed across a spatial continuum because non-linear boundary features (e.g., islands, rivers, habitat patches) are difficult to incorporate in many interpolation algorithms. In this study, we developed an approach for interpolating spatial data across non-linear boundaries by using a habitat mosaic of rock and purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) densities around Monterey Bay. We conducted underwater surveys to collect data on sea urchin density at randomly assigned points in order to parameterize our interpolation model. Using geostatistical analyst interpolation techniques within ArcGIS, we analyzed the spatial distribution of rocky reefs and created an interpolated map of sea urchin density across the patchy mosaic of rock, including rock ‘islands’. Our approach for using data interpolation on non-linear features such as island barriers enhances the applicability of spatial data interpolation to ecological systems.

The Implementation of Exercise Is Medicine On Campus at CSUMB

Maximillian Gastelum-Morales

Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Monterey Bay

Given the association among chronic diseases and sedentary lifestyles, the Exercise is Medicine (EIM) initiative aims to provide exercise as a countermeasure to the development and the prevention of chronic diseases. The purpose of this study is to track the progress of Exercise is Medicine-On Campus (EIM-OC) through its implementation phase at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB). This research study will track the implementation of exercise prescriptions, participation, and adherence through the EIM-OC initiative. Data collection methods include the on campus Health and Wellness Center, Kinesiology department, and students and staff at CSUMB. Previous methods used to track the EIM-OC programs will be used to evaluate the implementation of the program. This research hopes to find that EIM-OC can be successfully implemented and used to prevent sedentary lifestyle at CSUMB. Furthermore, through the exercise courses baseline fitness levels should improve; which will lead to decreased risk of chronic disease, as well as charting a course to the development of healthier lifestyle habits. In conclusion, the Exercise Is Medicine-On Campus Initiative will aid the development of healthier lifestyles, decrease in chronic diseases, as well as provide results towards the implementation of the initiative in a college setting.

Artificial intelligence and ethics: Revealing the conversation

Timothy D. Geary & Dr. Ajit Abraham

The field of Artificial intelligence (AI) seeks to create machines that learn how to achieve specific goals. How the AI achieves its aims are of deep ethical concern. Consequently, the field of AI ethics explores how a machine ought to make “good” decisions while still achieving its goal(s). This research builds on our previous scholarship which explored the plausibility of realizing all proposed autonomous vehicle (AV) benefits through collaboration at Carnegie Mellon University. We move beyond discussions of benefits to engage concrete ethical issues, challenges, and future implications for humanity and AI, specifically as it relates to AV technology. More specifically, we aim to explore what major themes emerge from government, law, industry, and academic stakeholder perspectives on AV ethics. We are currently conducting an interdisciplinary literature review which draws upon the fields of applied ethics, philosophy, AI, economics, and law.

Virtual Aquarium Tank System (VATS): Exploring the Use of Game Engine Programming to Emulate the External Influences on Aquatic Life

Sinead Natalia Gill* (1), Eric Gonzalez Olivares (1), Drew Bruggman (2), Dr. Drew Clinkenbeard (1)

(1) School of Computing & Design, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA (2) Computer Science Division, Yuba City Community College

There are numerous factors present today which contribute to the morphosis of oceanic anatomy, such as abnormal temperature fluctuations and the introduction of foreign substances into a habitat. The research focus on the Virtual Aquarium Tank System (VATS) is to determine if the use of game engine programming can be a viable tool in emulating external and internal variables that influence current oceanic conditions, as well as further examining the cause of depletion in aquatic vibrancy. The use of the specific game programming engine Unreal Engine (UE) is explored as being a potential educational outlet for a computer science curriculum as well. The research conducted with the tools within UE, such as the built-in visual scripting system Blueprint, is applied to create potential simulations and how aquatic flora and fauna may interact with pollution. With the instruments provided within UE, such as behavior trees which allow for the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) as well as the ability to apply water physics, the research further sets out to provide an informative and interactive experience for potential users to gain a better understanding of ocean life. This allows for presenting ocean life in a safe way which can promote the conservation of the aquatic life and allow for exposure to technological integration in aquatic science.

Spanish in the Professions; The Need of Intermediate Courses on College Campuses

Nery Gonzalez* & Dr. Rebecca Pozzi

School of World Languages and Cultures, California State University, Monterey Bay

In light of the recent closure of over 600 language departments, language courses in higher education in the United States must become more relevant to the needs of students, universities, and communities . One way such departments may address this challenge is through ascertaining institutional needs and building courses accordingly through interdisciplinary collaboration. Nevertheless, to our knowledge, few existing studies document the creation of such courses. While Spanish in the Professions courses are popular in higher education, they are often offered to majors or minors at an advanced level, once students have already determined their interest in language study. Nevertheless, considering that students with different majors may be interested in and called on to use Spanish in their array of professions at the local, national, and/or global level, an intermediate-level course relating to students; career aspirations is a logical choice for obtaining and maintaining students; interest in language. With this in mind, the present study describes the course development and implementation of an intermediate-level Spanish for the Professions course created to save the language requirement at a state university. We expect the course to meet the needs of the institution and we hope to share with the field the benefits and costs of creating such a course in collaboration with colleagues across disciplines. This work will be important for determining the effectiveness of the course in meeting the students; and institutions needs and it will be beneficial for providing information and materials to other departments looking to renew their relevance and maintain their presence on college campuses.

Virtual aquarium tank system (VATS): Exploring the effects of changing ocean conditions on marine life

Eric Gonzalez Olivares* (1), Natalia Gill (1), Drew Bruggman (2), & Dr. Drew Clinkenbeard (1)

(1) School of Computing & Design, California State University, Monterey Bay, (2)Computer Science, Yuba City Community College District

The term “video game” is often looked down upon as society has found playing video games pointless and troubling, and that people who play video games are often unmotivated and waste time. However, our research is focusing on using video games as a medium for education, specifically in ocean life and conditions, as well as to demonstrate programming ideas and concepts. We are using the Unreal Engine to create a virtual aquarium tank system that will exhibit aquatic life in various ocean conditions. We plan to implement user control over ocean conditions to display changes in ocean life as conditions change either through natural changes or through external means, such as pollution. Through creating this virtual aquarium tank system, we hope to find that the Unreal Engine, a technology typically used to create video games, can also be used for educational purposes surrounding oceanic conditions and marine life. We also believe this project could be used to teach programming basics and can grow over time as more adept programmers can add more artificially intelligent marine life and improved features to the aquarium.

In situ monitoring of insoluble pesticides’ absorption into organic material: A study in bioreactor design efficiency

Thomas Greathouse* (1), Samantha Champ (2), Rene Nunez (3), Zane Mortensen (4), & Arlene Haffa (5)

(1) CCARE Researcher, California State University, Monterey Bay, College of Alameda (2) REU Researcher, California State University, Monterey Bay, Monterey Peninsula College, Monterey, (3) Undergraduate Student Researcher, California State University, Monterey Bay, (4) Graduate Student Researcher, California State University, Monterey Bay, (5) Department of Biology and Chemistry, California State University, Monterey Bay

Conventional agriculture typically uses excessive inputs of toxic synthetic pesticides which percolate into the aquatic environment. In turn, these chemicals classified as persistent organic pollutants, not to be confused with organic farming, tend to bioaccumulate into fatty tissues of aquatic and terrestrial biota. The damage wrought to the delicate wetland ecosystem raises the question: If conventional farmers continue this practice, is there a way to at least allay toxin release into the greater environment? Microbes which are capable of degrading some of these pesticides have been extracted from wetlands downstream of agriculture areas. As stewards of the land we know better than to abuse a wetlands capacity for diluting toxic chemicals. That takes the problem right back to the source: mitigation in the field. A bioreactor is an artificial environment designed to sustain a population of microbes which break down toxic agricultural pollutants. While pesticides are generally hydrophobic there are significant differences in solubility due to molecular polarity. These differences in solubility affect the function of the bioreactor, ceteris paribus. The goal of this research is to relate pesticide solubility to bioremediation efficiency. I hypothesize the existence of such a relationship based on evidence that pesticide water solubility affects the hydraulic residence time.

Habitat Associations of the Monterey Ornate Shrew and the Effectiveness of Two Sampling Methods

Yimin Gu (1) & Dr. Jennifer Duggan (2)

(1) Community College Apprentice Research Experience (CCARE) (2) California State University, Monterey Bay

Little information is available on the habitat associations of the Monterey ornate shrew (Sorex Ornatus Salarius), a California Species of Special Concern. Researchers need effective sampling methods that are not labor intensive or expensive. This study aims to explore the habitat associations of the Monterey ornate shrew on the Fort Ord Natural Reserve in Monterey Bay California while testing the effectiveness of two common sampling methods. Our sampling methods include setting 32-oz pitfall traps and Sherman traps in three types of habitat (coastal scrub, manzanita shrub, and oak woodland). In both types of traps, we place a mixture of dry mealworm and seeds as bait to attract animals and reduce the chance of mortality following capture. To compare the effectiveness of the two sampling methods, we pair one of each type of trap at stations established at 10-m intervals. Preliminary results indicate a greater association of Monterey ornate shrews with manzanita shrub habitat than coastal scrub or oak woodland. Pitfall traps capture significantly more shrews than the Sherman traps. We expected the moist environment in oak woodlands would be favored by shrews. However, our preliminary results indicate the manzanita shrub habitat has the densest populations of shrews. One potential explanation may be the high densities of mice and rats in oak woodland and coastal scrub habitats. Mice and rats can easily eat the bait in pitfall traps and escape; once they occupy a Sherman trap, shrews can no longer be captured in the same trap until we reset it. Therefore, mice and rats may be decreasing the availability and effectiveness of both pitfall and Sherman traps in oak woodland and coastal scrub habitats.

Assessing the Health of the Kelp Canopy in Monterey Bay in Time and Space

Isabella Gutierrez* (1), Brian Cohn (2), Sarah Traiger (2), Maria Martone (2), Demetra Panos (2), & Kerry J. Nickols (2)

(1) School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA

The forests that Macrocystis Pyrifera (Giant Kelp) creates provide ecological and economical benefits. When kelp is healthy, it grows to the sea surface creating a canopy which is used as a nursery for important fishery species and is a major source for primary productivity. The purpose of this study is to assess the condition of the canopy of M. Pyrifera through time at two sites that are oceanographically different in wave action and temperature in Monterey, CA. We also are comparing two different methods to determine the condition of the canopy in order to assess the best method to quantify canopy health. One method uses a uniform point contact method to look at a specific area of the kelp canopy. The second method is examining specific parts of the kelp that make up the canopy in its entirety. So far, at the site with warmer water and less water movement we are seeing more deterioration of the kelp canopy. At the site with colder water and more wave action, the kelp canopy is healthier. The next step is to look at how the canopy changed at each individual location through time. Knowing how the kelp forest is changing through time can help us predict how other kelp forests will respond to a changing ocean.

Using Kostant’s formula to compute the alternating set of (lω1, μ)

Emily Henderson*, Elizabeth Robles*, & Dr. Peri Shereen

Mathematics & Statistics, California State University, Monterey Bay

Kostant’s weight multiplicity formula is used to compute the multiplicity of weights relating to objects of Lie algebras. Specifically, this paper will explore using Kostant’s formula in order to compute the alternating sets of the type Ar. However, Kostant’s weight multiplicity formula is computationally inefficient, so this paper will offer simplifications to the formula under certain restrictions. Additionally, this paper will address a natural extension of a pair of weights studied by Pamela Harris. In particular, we consider the pair (lω1, μ) where μ is the unique minimal weight of lω1. We also consider the cardinality of the alternating set of (lω1, μ), as well as the q -analog of its multiplicity.

Hispanic Testimonios of Monterey County

Linda Heredia Chavez*, Brian Chavez*, & Dr. Christine Fernandez

School of World Languages and Cultures, California State University, Monterey Bay

The anthology “Hispanic Testimonios of Monterey County” discloses various issues of social justice and its intersections with race/ethnicity, politics, gender, social class, among others from people with Hispanic heritage. As of date only two other scholarly publications in Spanish document the experiences of Hispanics in southern California such as Otras voces, nuevas identidades en la frontera sur de California (2017) as well as 21 Miles of Scenic Beauty...and then Oxnard (2011). The methods implemented include transcribing audio recording in Spanish, editing preliminary drafts of oral histories, compiling supplemental audiovisual materials, and collaborating on the organization of the material in the form of an enhanced e-book. The final product of this research is an enhanced e-anthology, which is considered to be the first scholarly publication in Spanish of this nature in the northern-central coast of California. The testimonios presented contribute for equality and respect for human rights. It will promote the active participation of the people, as well as the creation of a solid and secure platform to create awareness surrounding cases of social justice. Through this project, the linguistic and cultural diversity of our community is well represented by empowering those whose stories have been under the shadow.

Strange Fish in Weird Places: Patterns in the Distribution of Demersal Fishes within the Kelp Forests of the Monterey Peninsula Against a Backdrop of Changing Climate

Jasmin Johnson*, Jordan Velasco*, Laney Klunis*, Maite Gato-Fuentes*, & James Lindholm

Department of Marine Science, California State University, Monterey Bay

While climate change is well-studied on land in California, the extent to which it is reshaping the kelp forest fish communities of central and northern California remains a mystery. Multiple published accounts indicate that warm water events like El Niños bring species northward. But, questions remain about those species’ survival and/or reproduction after the events have concluded. We used SCUBA to survey seven sites along the Monterey Peninsula ranging from south Monastery Beach to the Monterey Breakwater. Replicate 20-minute ‘roving diver’ surveys were conducted at each site during which counts of twelve species of ‘strange fish’ were recorded and photographed for ID confirmation. Results to-date indicate that strange fish were present at five of the seven sites, with the Breakwater Wall representing the highest number of strange fish species as well as the highest counts per species of any of the sites. California sheephead occurred at three sites, as did Blacksmith, and Kelp Bass. Blacksmith were the most numerous to-date and were the only species observed from Monastery Beach to the Breakwater wall. Our project represents a snapshot in an on-going project that will help managers better understand how the State’s fish communities are changing with a changing climate.

Microplastic concentrations in surface seawater of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Lauren M. Kashiwabara* (1), Matthew S. Savoca (2), Marissa DeVogelaere (3), Chad King (4), & Jeremy A. Goldbogen (2)

(1) California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University (3) University of Portland (4) Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA

Microplastics, small pieces of plastic (<5mm), are the most common type of marine debris. Nearly 1000 marine species ingest microplastics, and the effects on the food web and ecosystem is of increasing concern. This has implications for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) because of the sanctuary’s mandate to understand and protect this area of national significance. The vertical distribution (5-1000m) of microplastics within the bay has been recently reported, finding the highest concentrations (15 particles m-3) at 200m depth, with higher concentrations of microplastics in offshore samples as compared to nearshore samples (Choy et al., 2019). To contribute to the limited research concerning microplastics in the MBNMS, we sought to understand the concentrations of microplastics surface seawater samples. In the summers of 2017 and 2018, we collected surface water samples using a manta trawl net (355μm mesh size) from two nearshore locations (Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Marina Sewage Outfall) and two offshore locations (Sur Ridge and Davidson Seamount) within the MBNMS. To isolate and extract synthetic material from our samples, we developed a process of density separation, chemical digestion, and vacuum filtration. We then used epifluorescence microscopy and ImageJ software to quantify the number of microplastics per cubic liter of seawater. To link the polymer type of our subset of our samples to their plastic source, we used Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Our results will provide vital baseline information on the extent of microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the MBNMS at nearshore and offshore locations.

The socialite of the breeding season: Tricolored blackbirds (Agelaius tricolor) and their colonial breeding habits

Alicia Khuon (1) & Dr. Christy Wyckoff (2)

(1) School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Santa Lucia Conservancy

Tricolored blackbirds are a threatened species with small nesting colonies along the Central Coast of California. The Santa Lucia Conservancy has been conducting a long-term banding study on this species to understand local breeding habitat requirements. Since 1930, the decline of tricolored black birds has dropped from approximately 3 million birds to roughly 170,000 birds today statewide. Tricolored blackbirds face multiple threats from human activities including destruction of freshwater marshes and grasslands, mowing and harvesting of breeding colonies, and the impacts of pesticides and climate change. Each spring, between April and June, birds were captured and banded at 3 local sites in Monterey County: Laguna Seca, Santa Lucia Preserve and Fort Ord. Since 2012, we have captured 3,231 tricolored blackbirds of which we newly banded 2,705 birds. 40 recaptures were evaluated for patterns of breeding site fidelity, movement between colonies within breeding season and between years, and co-occurrence of individuals at sites. Preliminary results indicate movements of individuals between breeding colonies at higher rates than expected and consistent inter-annual use of breeding sites. Additionally, limited but important movements have been observed between Central Coast and Central Valley populations. Our current understanding of breeding season movements highlights the importance of proximity breeding sites to provide birds options each year.

Cape Mendocino as a Barrier to Larval Dispersal using the Northern Striped Dogwinkle, Nucella ostrina and the Ribbed Limpet, Lottia digitalis

Lilli Krier* & Dr. Eric Crandall

School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay

This project is an extension of prior research with the objective of testing the hypothesis that Cape Mendocino is a barrier to gene flow between marine populations north and south of the Cape. Cape Mendocino projects far into the Pacific Ocean, creating strong upwelling that can force the drifting larvae of intertidal species offshore. In addition, a large sandy domain to the north gives no opportunities for successful settlement by larvae of rocky intertidal species. Here, we compare genetic structure across Cape Mendocino in two gastropod species, one of which (Lottia digitalis) has a planktonically dispersing larva, and the other of which (Nucella ostrina) does not. In 2017, Kensinger measured a high Fst value for L. digitalis, indicating that Cape Mendocino is probably a barrier to larval dispersal in this species. Because N. ostrina lacks larval dispersal, it provides a valuable comparison to L. digitalis. Mitochondrial DNA from cytochrome c oxidase (COI) in N.ostrina has been extracted via CTAB protocol and amplified with polymerase chain reactions (PCR) using universal primers jgLCO-1490 and jgHCO-2198. Sanger sequences from this genetic region will be analyzed for Fst and used to estimate the timing of population divergence in comparison to results from L. digitalis. If this project can demonstrate that Cape Mendocino is a barrier to gene flow for these species, it could directly affect the way that conservation management policy is implemented.

Practice Effect: The Influence of Familiarization During a Seated Medicine Ball Throw

Sienna Lish* (1), Casey Longaker (1), Lisa Keebler (1), Caleb Disney (1), Kent Adams PhD (1), Mark DeBeliso PhD (2), & George Beckham PhD (1)

(1) Kinesiology Department, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Southern Utah University

Physiological research and clinical practice rely heavily on reliable and valid tools to ensure accurate measurements, to create normative data, and to assess change in those populations over time. The practice effect is a phenomenon in which performance in a test improves as a result of a subject repeatedly performing the test. Familiarization with a given performance test, in which a subject completes “practice trials”, is essential because it ensures the subject’s score is representative of their maximum ability rather than their repeated exposure to the test. The seated medicine ball throw (SMBT), is a performance test used to assess upper body explosiveness. Most studies do not adequately document familiarization protocols. This research aims to establish a familiarization protocol for the SMBT and describe the number of trials needed for subjects to become familiarized. Twenty healthy, rested, recreationally active college students, participated in this study. Prior to testing, subjects performed a dynamic warm up, and were instructed on proper SMBT technique. Subjects were then familiarized with the SMBT exercise by executing repeated trials using a 10lb medicine ball with a rest of 1 minute between each trial. Once each subject achieved three consecutive throws within 0.25 m of one another, familiarization was achieved. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the number of familiarization trials. The average number of trials it took to familiarize a subject was 3.6 (SD = 2.5, range = 1 to 10). This data suggests that clinical practitioners using SMBT performance tests should perform approximately 4 practice trials to familiarize participants. However, because of the large range (1-10 trials) of familiarization trials needed, participants should complete practice trials until three consecutive throws are within 0.25 m of one another to account for subject variability.

Reliability of Distance Thrown during the Seated Medicine Ball Chest Throw

Casey Longaker* (1), Sienna Lish (1), Lisa Keebler (1), Caleb Disney (1), Kent Adams PhD (1), Mark DeBeliso PhD (2), & George Beckham PhD (1)

(1) Kinesiology Department, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Southern Utah University

Measuring distance thrown during the Seated Medicine Ball Throw (SMBT) has been used frequently within the literature to quantify upper body explosiveness, due to being easy to learn, low-risk, and requiring minimal equipment. The reliability of distance thrown in the SMBT has not been broadly reported, nor have familiarization protocols been thoroughly documented. The purpose of this study is to assess the reliability of distance thrown during the SMBT as a representative measurement for upper body explosiveness in active, recreationally trained adults. Before testing, 20 healthy, rested, and recreationally active subjects completed a dynamic warm-up. After being taught proper technique, subjects were familiarized with the exercise by completing continuous trials using a 10lb medicine ball, with 1 minute of rest between trials, until three consecutive throws within 0.25 m were achieved. Subjects rested 20 minutes, repeated the warm-up, and then completed 6 trials of the SMBT where distance of each throw was measured. Any trial in which technique deviated significantly from the instructions was repeated. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess reliability between trials. Distances thrown for trials 1-6 were as follows: 3.43±0.99 m, 3.41±0.95 m, 3.48±1.00 m, 3.48±1.00 m, 3.46±1.03 m, and 3.54±1.05 m respectively. ICCs for consecutive trial pairs ranged from 0.97-0.99. These findings suggest that distance thrown is a reliable representative measure of upper body explosiveness in recreationally trained adults. The familiarization protocol used was sufficient for producing consistent performance.

How Would You Allocate Animals for Studying Hormetic Dose-Response Relationship?

Christina Magana-Ramirez*, Dr. Jeffrey Wand, & Dr. Steven Kim

Mathematics and Statistics Department, California State University, Monterey Bay

In toxicology and environmental science, hormesis refers to a beneficial effect in low doses and a harmful effect in high doses. An experiment is often conducted on a small number of animals due to ethical and practical reasons, so it is important to be efficient. The research goal is to develop a decision rule for allocating a fixed number of animals to experimental doses. It is important from two perspectives. Statistically, an optimal decision rule can increase statistical power (i.e., probability of concluding hormesis, if it truly exists). Ethically, it saves the number of animals sacrificed in the experiment. Using simulations (i.e., generating data under an assumed model), we show that an optimal experimental design can result in a higher statistical power when compared to current practices.

Does pH affect the oxidation of Deep eutectic solvents?

Madison McCaslin*, Parker Smith, & John Goeltz

School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay

Deep eutectic solvents that comprise catechol elucidate both how best to measure the oxidation of each solvent and on structural and thermodynamic differences between various solvents. These solvents exhibit coagulation when oxidized and can help prevent battery overcharging, leading to improved safety and performance in electronic devices. To date, the pH of these mixtures has not yet been independently varied to see if the pH is a dependent variable within the reaction or if it merely controls the result. With this experiment, the pH was measured using a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), and a micro pH probe to compare their accuracy and reproducibility. From a range of available salts, three were chosen to change their pH levels and measure their oxidations with voltammetry to see if the oxidation peaks have shifted predictability with each pH. If the peak positions remain unchanged, we can determine that pH is an independent variable in our catechol and salt solvent mixture during data collecting. If this is not the case, then we will do further collection with pH as a dependent variable, investigating the buffer functionality of such solvents.

How Productivity and Susceptibility Analysis (PSA) Can Evaluate Vulnerability to Fishing

Nelsy Montes-Romero* (1) & Dr. Robin Pelc (2)

(1) Monterey Peninsula College (2) School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay

Productivity and susceptibility analysis (PSA) is a risk-based method that is conducted in data-limited situations to evaluate the vulnerability of marine species to depletion from fishing. The PSA method takes into consideration a productivity score and a susceptibility score that combine to produce an overall score ranking of low, medium, or high vulnerability. The productivity score takes into consideration life history characteristics of a certain marine species while the susceptibility score assesses the fishery’s predicted impact on the species. There are many variations of PSA approaches used in sustainable seafood and fisheries management programs throughout the world, but more research is needed to identify how different sets of attributes and formulas affect the outcome of the PSA. We gathered PSA attributes for 203 species from 52 reports published by the Seafood Watch Program and compiled this data into a database. We then tested a variety of attribute sets and formulas to compare the resulting vulnerability scores. The results will be sent to the Seafood Watch Program, where they will be shared with expert and stakeholder peer reviewers and used to inform revisions to the Seafood Watch fisheries criteria, used to assess and rate fisheries around the world.

Monitoring Sea Urchin Larvae Populations in the Monterey Bay

Natalie Montgomery* (1)

(1) School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University (3) Institute of Marine Science, University of California, Santa Cruz

The kelp forest ecosystem off the shores of Monterey Bay, California are inhabited with various species of mammals, invertebrates and fish. The kelp forest provides shelter, nourishment and purification to the ocean water. Various species of sea urchins are attracted to this habitat, but the increase in sea urchin barrens correlates to the depletion of kelp forests. Kelp is not the primary source of nourishment for urchins; however, they will consume kelp at the holdfast if that is more readily available to them. There may be a need for humans to step in and regulate urchin populations. A cross benefit analysis needs to be done on the effects and rate of collecting sea urchins. By performing a census on all sea urchin larvae accumulated in scrub brushes off the Still-Water and Monterey Pier, we will be able to see when there are more offspring’s accumulating, which species to be mindful of and when divers could potentially collect adult urchins on their dives.

Tidal and Seasonal Influxes on Nutrients in Moro Cojo

Ally Morris* (1), Jacquie Chisholm (2), & Dr. Kimberly Null (3)

(1) School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) The Nutrient Lab, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Agricultural practices in the Moss Landing have improved to slow nutrient input into Moro Cojo Slough via run-off. However, the nutrient levels are still at high levels which raises concern for ecosystem health. There is a possibility that there is a groundwater interaction that could be causing these high levels due to the low floodplain of the area. Continuous monitoring in the Moro Cojo was conducted to quantify the impact of tidal and seasonal variation. This type of interaction has yet to be specifically included in nutrient budgets. This study focuses on finding nitrate sources by pairing nitrate isotopes with conservative tracers. The different tracers utilized in this study include isotopes, nutrients, elements, and Radon-222. There is an expected difference in seasons due to precipitation and evaporation during different times of year. This project chose different seasons to monitor in order to have a better representation of variability between each season. The broader impact of this study will help quantify groundwater influence into the nutrient budget. Additionally, it can help create a model that can be applied to a larger area. For instance, this study can be used to describe the entire West Salinas area or other estuary systems.

Dissolved phosphate and nitrate path from high concentration in agricultural lands to creating algal coverage in the Elkhorn Slough

Rebecca Munster* (1), Ernest Ramirez (2), & Timothy Thomas (1)

(1) School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) CCARE School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay

The Elkhorn Slough has been substantially impacted by agricultural runoff from the Salinas Valley. Runoff drains into the Old Salinas River and flows downstream into Moss Landing Harbor and ultimately into the Elkhorn Slough where the dissolved nutrients promote algae bloom. At low tide, the thick algal matts get beached ontop of the salt marsh plant, pickleweed, and prevent sunlight absorption, impacting the photosynthesis process. The goal of our study is to track the movement of those dissolved nutrients beginning at the Old Salinas River and ending at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, an approximately ten mile route. Water was collected from six sites along the route once a week for six weeks to measure the turbidity, phosphate and nitrate. The two sites nearest to the agricultural lands exhibited the highest concentrations of phosphate and nitrate with concentrations gradually decreasing further downstream, most likely due to the salt water exchange and massive water overturn. One of the sites included a water purification system installed by CSUMB which purified the Old Salinas water and significantly decreased nutrient concentrations.

Bioremediation of Pesticides Using Bacterial Communities in Woodchip Bioreactors

Rene Nunez*, Zane Mortensen, & John Silveus

California State University, Monterey Bay

California uses approximately 92 million kilograms of pesticides annually for its commercially expansive agricultural sector. Frequent pesticide use in the State has led to numerous health and environmental issues. Exposure to pesticides can occur through direct contact, air dispersal, or contaminated water through agricultural effluent. Pesticide in the environment reduces biodiversity, builds pest resistance to pesticides, and can evaporate then condensate to other locations. Previous studies have shown woodchip bioreactors to be viable forms of remediation for agricultural effluent. Woodchip bioreactors function by maintaining microbial communities selected for pesticide remediating capabilities under conditions in which they are most efficient. Previous research has shown that woodchip bioreactors can be an effective means of reducing contaminant concentrations commonly found in agricultural effluent. However, little work has been done to assess the ability to capability of this technology to remediate specific pesticides. To evaluate woodchip bioreactors for specific pesticide remediation, high concentrations of several types of pesticides were observed over time. Pesticide concentrations decreased over time in several experiments indicating woodchip bioreactors to be an applicable approach to mitigate pesticides. Further data is required to ensure woodchip bioreactors remediate pesticides significantly, and work should be done to compare systems with and without bacteria.

Cattle grazing for conservation: Could cattle be an unexpected solution to our grassland needs?

Madison Ono* (1), Dr. Christy Wyckoff (2), & Dr. Rodrigo Sierra Corona (2)

(1) School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Santa Lucia Conservancy

The Santa Lucia Preserve’s extensive grasslands have been highlighted as a top stewardship priority for the Santa Lucia Conservancy. Grassland management to prevent brush encroachment and invasive weeds, and reintroduce a disturbance regime is vital for promoting biodiversity, enhancing wildlife habitat, and reducing fire risk. Since 2013, the Conservancy has implemented cattle grazing as a tool for sustaining and enhancing the grasslands. To monitor the effects of the grazing program, plant species cover, together with grazing intensity and frequency has been measured. Data was collected in grazed and ungrazed areas over a total of 27 exclosures. Preliminary results show positive trends in some target areas, such as increased native cover and species diversity, and decreased non-native forb cover. These findings indicate that conservation minded grazing might be a suitable tool for large-scale landscape management.

Assessing Bacterial Growth of Permethrin and Imidacloprid Remediating Strains Through The Use of the Gompertz Equation

Zane Polsan* & Nathaniel K. Jue

School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay

Bioreactors are useful in promoting both degradation and filtration of many organic compounds as a result of the bacterial colonies which inhabit a bioreactor. The health and condition of the bacterial communities within a bioreactor is anticipated to correlate with its efficiency and effectiveness in the aforementioned tasks. Previously isolated bacterial strains capable of breaking down and consuming pesticides were used. Prior work in the Jue Lab has shown that strains have varied growth rates in pesticide growth media indicating differing degrees of pesticide remediating capacity. It is integral for us to understand under what conditions strains grow the fastest and/or achieve the highest population density in order to maximize pesticide remediation in actual bioreactors. To gain insight into the issue we designed an experiment to explicitly compare growth rates and the level of adaptation to pesticide metabolism among permethrin and imidacloprid remediating bacterial strains. Data was gathered through a paralyzed experimental design using a TECAN spectrophotometry system wherein populations were monitored over a four day period. Population growth rates were estimated using a Gompertz population growth curve and the resulting parameters identified growth rates of different strains. Data from this experiment will be used to identify strains to use in experimental field tests of bioreactor systems.

Algae Coverage As A Result of Increased Nutrients: Elkhorn Slough Reserve and Mouth

Ernest Ramirez* (1), Rebecca Munster (2), & Timothy Thomas (2)

(1) UROC, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay

Farmers utilize nitrogen and phosphate rich fertilizers to improve crop growth but, this causes an environmental threat. The issue lies with the nutrient rich water being absorbed into the ground and making its way into rivers and eventually the Elkhorn Slough Reserve. The nutrient rich water accelerates the growth of algae around the reserve. During low tide the water recedes and strands algae on top of pickleweed, which is habitat to animals. With the pickleweed’s ability to photosynthesize compromised, they die. Our aim is to investigate just how much algae currently covers the pickleweed and illustrate our findings through photographs. By gathering pictures from the Reserve and Mouth we can analyze the percentage of pickleweed covered. Pictorial evidence suggests further damage to pickleweed via algae unless concentration of algae is brought down.

Effects of salts to Catechol at different ratios

Gustavo Ramos* (1) & Dr. John Goeltz (2)

(1) Community College Apprentice Research Experience (CCARE) (2) California State University, Monterey Bay

Low cost salts such as choline chloride and tetrabutylammonium chloride(TBACl) are used to find high energy oxidation potentials in solutions containing catechol as alternatives for traditional battery electrolytes. Oxidation and reduction peaks were measured at elevated temperatures through the use of cyclic voltammetry. By identifying the physical and electrochemical properties of these deep eutectic solvents, we aim to find solutions with both oxidation and reduction peaks, indicative of reversible reactions and thus suitable for energy storage. These reversible reactions would be relevant for grid scale energy storage and potentially consumer electronics.

Potential of terrestrial plastic pollution to impact marine ecosystems: Quantification of agricultural microplastics in Salinas, California

Riley Ransom* (1), Yulia Loshkareva (1), & Pam Krone (2)

(1) School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Most marine pollution originates from land-based activities; however, microplastic studies mainly focus on pollution already present in marine environments rather than pollution on land. Commercial agricultural waste accounts for a large percentage of nonpoint source pollution in the United States, yet the contribution of agriculture to marine microplastic pollution has not been evaluated. Through our research, we hope to evaluate the potential of nonpoint source pollution to contribute to overall plastic pollution present in the local marine environment. In order to quantify agricultural microplastics, stream surveys were conducted downstream of agricultural operations in Salinas Valley, California. Samples were analyzed for presence of microplastics using a protocol adapted from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Our investigation addresses the severity of the problem at hand and can help inform policy making decisions regarding the pollution from agricultural operations. Removing microplastics from the ocean is very challenging; therefore, it is crucial that the overall amount of plastic entering the ocean is reduced. In order to mitigate the issue it is necessary to first identify sources of marine plastic pollution. My study will show that agricultural plastics used in the Salinas Valley are entering the watershed and eventually the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Cutting Cost, Cutting Waste: Sustainable Procurement

Olivia Quadros* & Dr. Dante Di Gregorio

International Business

Sustainable procurement is a purchasing process that takes into account the economic, environmental and social impacts of a particular business’ spending habits. Sustainable procurement not only save dollars but it can also help to save the environment. Cutting costs and cutting waste is the main focus of this research. A survey was conducted and sent out to the College of Business Faculty and Administration. The survey consisted of questions pertaining to their knowledge of sustainable procurement as well as their paper usage habits. The research is still in the process of being analyzed, however, it is revealing that paper is not a resource of the past. Many professors and administrators still use large amounts of paper. Through this research, California State University, Monterey Bay is able to save more money, while seriously promoting sustainability. The intention of this research is to educate people about the scarcity of paper as well as the importance of printing less of it.

Study of Latino Cancer Screening and Follow-up in a Remote Agricultural Community (SOLCS)

Josephine Sanchez*, Francisca Frida Rios, Audra Ketchem, Meng-Tsai, PhD, & Daramola N. Cabral, Dr PH, MPH, PA

College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay, College of Education, California State University, Monterey Bay, College of Health Sciences and Human Services, California State University, Monterey Bay

Cancer is the leading cause of mortality among Latinos. Death rates among Latinos in the US are 25%-30% higher than in non-Hispanic Whites and utilization of cancer screening is lower than expected and influenced by multiple socio-cultural factors. There are significant gaps in the literature that addresses cancer prevention and control in Latinos as most of the behavioral, cultural, and psychosocial research related to cancer prevention and control focuses on non-Hispanic Whites. SOLCS aims to add to the body of literature to improve the understanding of cancer screening utilization and timely follow-up among Latinos. Focus groups and interviews of men and women elucidate barriers of cancer screening and follow-up. Areas to be examined include patients’ perceptions and beliefs about cancer, enablers and promoters to screening and follow-up, perceived system barriers, and other mediators of cancer health behaviors. Through focus groups and interviews, the stages of change, health behaviors, health beliefs, perceptions of cancer risk, and self-efficacy to complete recommended follow-up will be identified. This data will guide the design of culturally sensitive and appropriate cancer educational intervention and care delivery models to improve screening and follow-up rates.

The Psychology Behind Science Fairs

Katie Scariot* & Dr. Kevin Grobman

Department of Psychology, California State University, Monterey Bay

This study explores the psychological research behind science fairs. The data for this study was collected through surveying middle and high school students in the state of Louisiana. The students were asked to draw what they think a scientist looks like. The cross-sectional data provided in this study was collected over the span of four academic school years, from 2009-2013. Science fairs offer a multi-month long authentic project-based learning experience culminating in a chance to present their research to real scientists. This experience can be life-changing for students. After collecting the surveys, a research team analyzed the drawings and identified that the majority of students depicted stereotypical traits and characteristics of what a “scientist” is.

Phytoplankton Phrenzy: The optimization of DNA extraction methodology for Pseudo-nitzschia qPCR in the field

Amalia M. Seigel* (1), Holly A. Bowers (2), & G. Jason Smith (2)

(1) UROC, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Environmental Biotechnology, Moss Landing Marine Labs

Pseudo-nitzschia are a genus of planktonic diatom. Some species are toxic and cause harmful algal blooms (HABs) which have adverse effects on wildlife and humans. Toxic species of Pseudo-nitzschia produce domoic acid which accumulates in shellfish and finfish. Consumption of these contaminated sources can cause amnesia, seizures, and even death in humans and other animals. Due to the danger posed by a toxic bloom Pseudo-nitzschia , there needs to be a fast reliable way to identify the specific species present in blooms. The goal of this project is to determine optimal DNA extraction methodologies for Pseudo-nitzschia qPCR in the field. We initially started sampling water and isolating Pseudo-nitzschia to culture. Individual cultures were filtered down, a specific ribosomal gene was amplified, and products run through gel electrophoresis. The bands were cut out, run through a clean-up kit and sent off for sequencing. The DNA derived from the cultures was mixed with species specific primers and run through qPCR. The sequencing data was used to validate the qPCR. After the qPCR is deemed efficient in the lab it will be tested in the field. Samples will undergo a rapid DNA extraction and run through the portable qPCR machine in the field. The same samples will be run back at the lab for validation. Techniques for rapid identification of HABs can be used to support marine mammal rescue centers, major fishing companies, and aquariums who rely on unfiltered seawater; allowing them to be prepared in the event of a harmful Pseudo-nitzschia bloom.

Extraction of Imidacloprid from Water by Binding with Divalent Nickel Ions

Shawntey Greenway*, Aarohi Shah*, & Dr. Arlene Haffa

School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay

Neonicotinoids have been linked to the occurrence of Honey-bee colony collapse (Oldroyd 2007) which has created productivity problems for the agricultural business. This pesticide class has also displayed a negative effect on the survival of freshwater insect larvae (Sanchez-Bayo 2014), which is the basis of the food web for many stream dependent species. In 2014, the Pollinator Health Task Force was established via a Presidential Memorandum released by President Obama to support efforts to Pollinator Health through research and other avenues. Neonicotinoids, such as Imidacloprid, are water soluble insecticides that have an Imidazole-like ring structure. Imidazoles have been shown to bind to metals with a 2+ charge, including Nickel (Ni2+) (Bauman and Wang 1964). This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the Imidazole-like ring in Imidacloprid can be bound to Ni2+ using commercially available magnetic nickel beads. If successfully bound, this property could be exploited as a possible-means for removing Imidacloprid from contaminated water.

Psychological well-being: Does connectedness to nature and spirituality play a role?

Frederick Siglar*, Abigail Correa, & Dr. Jennifer Lovell

Department of Psychology, California State University, Monterey Bay

Many factors, such as perceived social support and meaning in life, have been associated with psychological well-being. However, very few studies have explored the relationships between these factors and other mediating factors. Since research suggests that both spirituality and connectedness to nature play a role in many of these relationships, the current study aims to further investigate these roles. Participants included 867 university students, faculty, and staff who completed an online survey consisting of the Connectedness to Nature Scale (CNS), the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), and a demographic questionnaire including a question about level of spirituality. Preliminary analysis suggests there is a significant relationship between the CNS and spirituality. Spirituality and the CNS also have significant relationships with the MLQ, different subscales of the MSPSS, along with different subscales of the PHQ-4. It is expected that deeper investigation will find that connectedness to nature and spirituality do, in fact, serve as mediators for the relationships between perceived social support, meaning in life, and mental health.

Tektite Revisited: NASA’s Forgotten Underwater Missions

Nicolas Simonini*, Meghan O’Hara, & James Thomas

Cinematic Arts and Technology, California State University, Monterey Bay

Tektite Revisited: NASA’s Forgotten Underwater Missions (working title) is an eighty-minute feature-length documentary that tells the story of the Tektite Program, an experimental underwater research station operated by NASA in the U.S. Virgin Islands between 1969-1970. A sensuous visual depiction of NASA’s manned spaceflight research in the Caribbean as an international “Space Race” came to a close, the film employs a vast collection of rarely-seen and newly-restored archival materials (16mm film, audio recordings, photographs, extensive government records), and revisits a series of unlikely missions led by America’s “aquanauts,” who lived underwater for weeks on end. Tektite Revisited uses the forgotten program as a case study for examining a Cold War-era cultural preoccupation with survival in extreme environments, and ultimately suggests the program’s role in a set of larger, global questions regarding humanity’s relationship to its home planet.

Variability of Fog Collection Between a High-Density of Fog Collectors Within a Defined Area

Carina Swann* (1), Yulia Loshkareva (2), & Jordan McCabe (2)

(1) Community College Apprentice Research Experience (CCARE) (2) California State University, Monterey Bay

In April, 2018, ten fog collectors were deployed on the California State University, Monterey Bay campus within a 2.5-acre plot. All of the collectors face the same direction and are equipped in the same fashion. Each collector is made up of a vertical 2.25 meter by 1.00 meters copper frame with a double layer of raschel mesh stretched across the frame. Each frame is aligned to be perpendicular to the typical wind pattern that occurs during a fog event, which tends to be from the northwest. Fog water accumulates on the mesh and runs down into a rain gage. The rain gage is outfitted with a data logger that monitors the number of bucket tips from the collected water, as fast as one tip per second. Prior to installing, the rain gages are each calibrated, allowing the number of liters of water to be calculated based on the number of tips recorded. The fog collectors were checked roughly every six months since the initial deployment. The amount of fog collected was noticeably different when comparing the collectors. It was found that most of the northward fog collectors, despite having more shelter from nearby buildings, collected more fog than the southward fog collectors. This indicates that a combination of local variability in the fog density, water droplet size of the fog, and difference in wind currents and direction within this area can affect the amount of fog collected.

Effects of hypoxia on ventilation rate in English sole, Parophrys vetulus

Ethan Switzer* (1) & Helaina Lindsey (2)

(1) School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Ichthyology Lab, Moss Landing Marine Labs

English sole (Parophrys vetulus) is a right-eyed flatfish commonly found along the west coast. Juvenile English sole use coastal estuaries as a nursery habitat, which unfortunately is susceptible to anthropogenic stressors, such as eutrophication. Hypoxia, the deficiency of oxygen, causes an increase in ventilation rate. This increase can result in vulnerability to predators and an increase in energy exertion, which negatively affects its survivability. Six treatments of dissolved oxygen(DO) were set up in twelve tanks containing ten fish each. After two weeks, the acclimated fish(n=60) were tested in trials of two tanks per treatment with five fish per tank in an array of ten experimental chambers made of 1.5cm thick polypropylene sheet. By counting operculum movements on GoPro footage, the ventilation rate is estimated from averaging between three one-minute measurements from the beginning, middle, and end of the 30-minute recording. We expect to see a linear pattern of increased ventilation rate as DO decreases. Alternatively, the ventilation rate may stay constant and rapidly increase at a lower standard. This data serves as a reference in determining the long-term effects hypoxia has on English sole population and how its nursery habitat can be protected from anthropogenic stressors.

Simplifying Moss Systematics

Emma Teall* & Dr. John Olson

Watershed Ecology and Environments Lab, California State University Monterey Bay

California State University, Monterey Bay’s Watershed Ecology and Environment Lab current investigation of moss as a tool for bioassessment requires taxonomic identification down to genus. However moss classification is a disputed subject, with experts disagreeing on which families and genuses are legitimate. Works on the topic of moss systematics are limited, difficult to access, and lack productive discussion of the inconsistencies in the field. In order to produce a reliable taxonomy and taxa characteristics for the project’s use, major sources for moss taxonomies were analyzed. This included five database websites, three books, and multiple miscellaneous minor sources were thoroughly reviewed for taxonomic information and the evidence and sources behind each were scrutinized. When compared, a cladogram was produced along with lists of characteristics for each level of classification. Any areas of dispute were discussed and summarized; most of the disagreements on moss systematics were found to be caused by lack of communication between experts and common issues based on chosen species concepts. This comprehensive synthesis of Bryopsida literature allows our main project to move forward with reliable species identification, and also provides the field with an overview of current knowledge, showing which methods need improvement and where further phylogenetic work is needed.

The relationship between small mammal personality and trappability

Thomy Tran* & Dr. Jennifer Duggan

School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay

The consistency of behaviors observed in individuals across various situations is known as a behavioral syndrome. While animals observed in a laboratory setting often display evidence for behavioral syndromes, or personalities, behavioral syndromes have received less documentation in animals in their natural habitat. We seek to understand how the personalities of wild animals influences their detection, or trappability. Thus, we will live trap multiple species of small mammals in the wild, test their personalities, and assess the relationship between personality and trappability. We will conduct small mammal trapping and personality testing for a total of 24 trap-nights over a 3-month period. We predict a positive correlation between bold personality traits and trappability, regardless of body mass, sex, or reproductive status. Information on the relationship between personality and trappability will help researchers understand potential biases in research that relies on live trapping to sample small mammals.

Bison: You Can Thank Us Later - Auction, Preferences, & WTP

Nichol Veles* & Dr. Angel Gonzalez

College of Business, California State University, Monterey Bay

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 2015, a consumer preference study was conducted using experimental auctions for 93% ground bison versus 93% ground beef, with a total of 82 subjects, concerning their willingness to pay and consumer sensory experiments. The initial analysis shows that the ground bison is competing, hand in hand, with ground beef, and the demographic factors which impact the results are more or less similar.

Bioassessment of the Salinas River with and without the presence of Arundo donax

Paco Villegas* & Dr. John R. Olson

School of Natural Science, California State University, Monterey Bay

Arundo donax (Arundo) is an invasive species which outcompetes native riparian plants and is threatening the Salinas River. An effort to eradicate the reed has begun in some parts of the river, but there is still little evidence regarding Arundo removal and its effects on riparian ecosystems. We had two goals in this project: (1) to assess the ecological integrity of two different sections of the Salinas River, with and without Arundo, respectively, and (2) examine the effect of Arundo on the ecology of the river. We collected water chemistry data and used a D-frame net to collect benthic macro invertebrates at each site following the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program protocol. We identified the samples to genus and conducted a bioassessment of the stream—we compared the observed insects to a site-specific list of insects that account for a healthy stream. We expect to find different assemblages at both sites, but mainly we anticipate observing low numbers of indicator taxa (i.e., Ephemeroptera) and higher numbers of tolerant taxa (i.e., Coleoptera) at the Arundo dominated sites. The substantial patches of Arundo along the Salinas River likely have a negative effect on the stream’s health and its immediate ecosystem.

Genetic isolation of pesticide-degrading bacteria from selective media: Biodegradation of Imidacloprid in woodchip bioreactor

Xong Vue* (1) & Dr. John Silveus (2)

(1) Chemistry, Cosumnes River College (2)School of Natural Sciences, California State University, Monterey Bay

The biodegradation of pesticides such as Imidacloprid is the objective of the CSUMB Bioremediation Project to remediating farm effluent and reducing agricultural pollution . In CSUMB experimental bioreactors, bacteria has been observed to biodegrade Imidacloprid at a rate up to 48 percent.1 Identifying the genetic codes for enzymes capable of pesticide reduction may maximize the bioreactor’s productivity. Bacterial isolation, genetic identification, and genetic sequencing are experimental methods for quantifying enzymatic levels and abundance. Bacteria was isolated and grown in Luria Broth (LB) and selective media composed of Imidacloprid was the only available nutrient, and growth of bacteria under these conditions were observed. A Nanodrop 2000 Spectrophotometer was used to measure the concentration and purity of genetic composition, however, genetic isolation was unsuccessful. Using a different approach, bacteria were grown in selective media and then transferred to LB to prevent Imidacloprid from biodegrading genetic material. Genetic material was isolated and tested with the Nanodrop 2000, and consistent genetic material was obtained using the new protocol. Samples underwent sequencing with an Illumina MinION followed by bioinformatic analysis. The results from bioinformatic analysis may show which bacterial enzymes were responsible for Imidacloprid reduction. Further studies may inform the direction of the project towards more productive directions resulting in higher pollutant reductions.

An Unusual Juxtaposition: The History of Queer Spirituality in the Monterey Area From the 1990’s Onward

Ethan Weinschenk* & Dr. David Reichard

School of Humanities & Communications, California State University, Monterey Bay

Of the areas of queer history that scholars have investigated such as activism; religion and spirituality have been studied little and are seldom perceived in a positive light. For many LGBTQ people, religion has often been a source of oppression. This project demonstrates that in Monterey County, several religious ministries and groups have served as institutions for social justice, provided HIV/AIDS support, created spaces for community events, and generated opportunities for religious fellowship. These ministries and groups have included the John XXIII AIDS Ministry, Lavender Road Metropolitan Community Church, Integrity Inc. Furthermore, such existing religious organizations as the Unitarian Universalist Church, Unity of the Monterey Peninsula, and Temple Beth El Synagogue. Rooted in extensive archival research in the Monterey County LGBTQ History Collection at CSU Monterey Bay and oral histories, this project suggests that some religious ministries and groups in Monterey County have demonstrated increasing support for LGBTQ issues, including involvement in Pride and other forms of activism, offering an alternative to traditional religious objections to homosexuality, and instead, offering a commitment to inclusivity.

Mechanical Characterization of Wax Bound Incendiaries as Reactive Ballistics

William Bai* (1) & Dr. Joseph Hooper (2)

(1) Archbishop Mitty High School (2) Physics Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Armor Development: Ball Milling Boron Carbide and Silicon

Isidoro Consentino* (1) & Dr. Ray Gamache (2)

(1) California State University, Monterey Bay (2) Physics Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Thermal Gravimetric Analysis and Carbon Nanotubes

Nathalie Daoud* (1) & Dr. Claudia Luhrs (2)

(1) Monterey High School(2) Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Mechanical Characterization of 3D-Printed Steel Produced Using the Bound Metal Deposition Process

Katherine Dean* (1) & Dr. Joseph Hooper (2)

(1) Carmel High School (2) Physics Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Forecasting of Upwelling Favorable Winds along the U.S. West Coast

Gabriel Gargiulo* (1), Nicole Korinetz (2), & Dr. Tom Murphree (3)

(1) York School (2) Santa Catalina School (3) Meteorology Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Weather Model Adjustment and Improvement

Anjali Golechha* (1) & Dr. Wendell Nuss (2)

(1) Carmel High School (2) Meteorology Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Network Measurement and Cyber Attack Detection using Stable Distributions

Jorge Gonzalez* (1), Joshua Clymer (2), & CDR Dr. Chad Bollmann (3)

(1) Florida Atlantic University (2) Monte Vista Christian School (3) Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School

Develop Cased Based Reasoning for Military Offense

Charles Knight* (1) & Dr. Neil Rowe (2)

(1) Monterey Peninsula College (2) Computer Science Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Effects of 50 caliber bullets on various resealable polyurea samples for fuel lines

Megan Kou* (1), Dr. Raymond Gamache (2), & Maj Christopher Phifer (2)

(1) University of California Santa Barbara (2) Physics Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Data processing and visualization for sonar and aircraft data

Seth Knoop* (1), Samantha Batson (2), Mitali Chowdhury (1) , Nancy Daoud (3) , Daniel Duan (4), Kaylin Li (5), Shruthik Musukula (6), Juan Ramirez Chavez (7), & Arijit Das (8)

(1) Pacific Grove High School (2) Hartnell College (3) Monterey High School (4) Monta Vista High School (5) Lynbrook High School (6) Bellarmine College Preparatory (7) University of California, Santa Cruz (8) Computer Science Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Exploring titanium or aluminum methods for improved body armor plates

Trevor Lin* (1), Dr. Raymond Gamache (2), & LT Max Cutchen (2)

(1) University of California, Santa Barbara (2) Physics Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Visualization code development and applications in Meteorology

Brendan Lin* (1) & Dr. Wendell Nuss (2)

(1) Carmel High School (2) Meteorology Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Airboss Mobile Web App

Joseph Martineau* (1) & Dr. Gerald Scott (2)

(1) Naval Postgraduate School (2) Information Sciences Dept, Naval Postgraduate School

Mechanical Characterization of Polyurea Coatings for Mitigation of Reactive Fragments

Abigail Milanesa* (1) & Dr. Joseph Hooper (2)

(1) Notre Dame High School (2) Physics Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Understanding Lower Atmospheric Structure from In Situ Observations

Pascale Montgomery* (1), Lance Bauer (2), & Dr. Qing Wang (3)

(1) Carmel High School (2) Stevenson School (3) Meteorology Dept., Naval Postgraduate School

Maritime Cyber Security

Sarah Movahedi* (1) & Dr. Carson McAbee (2)

(1) Carmel High School (2) Center for Cyber Warfare, Naval Postgraduate School

Tracking Satellites with Amateur Telescopes

Mariah Trinity* (1), Mark Kragh (2), LTCD Laura Anderson (3), Charles M. Racoosin (3), & Dr. James H. Newman (3)

(1) Marina High School (2) University of California, San Diego (3) Space Systems Academic Group, Naval Postgraduate School

Understanding Lower Atmospheric Structure from in situ Observations

Simone Yamaoka* (1), Jocelyn Horng (2), & Dr. Qing Wang (3)

(1) University of Washington (2) Evergreen Valley High School (3) Meteorology Dept., Naval Postgraduate School