Digital Commons Network^™

Hitch Cart “Landing Gear”, Rebekah White, Jose Raygoza, Randy Hernandez, Brandon Leon

Mechanical Engineering

This report aims to allow our sponsor, to review our design process of the Hitch Cart Landing Gear Prototype. In the design overview section of this report, we discuss the primary design modifications we made to the wheel mechanism of the existing hitch cart prototype, including the addition of the ACME screws and the folding brackets. This allows our sponsor to see the intended improvements made to the past prototype and understand the primary goal of our project. Then, in the implementation section, we cover the entire manufacturing process to allow our sponsor to understand what manufacturing steps must be …

Enabling Emg-Based Silent Speech Transcription Through Speech-To-Text Transfer Learning, Alexander T. Garcia

Master's Theses

In recent years, advances in deep learning have allowed various forms of electrographic signals, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG), to be used as a viable form of input in artificial intelligence applications, particularly for applications in the medical field. One such topic that EMG inputs have been used is in silent speech interfaces, or devices capable of processing speech without an audio-based input. The goal of this thesis is to explore a novel method of training a machine learning model to be used for silent speech interface development: using transfer learning to leverage a pre-trained speech recognition model …

Gps Accuracy Of Smartphones For Crowdsourcing Research, Derron L. Dike

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

ABSTRACT GPS Accuracy of Smartphones for Crowdsourcing Research Derron Dike Utilizing crowdsourcing with smartphones as a method for field data collection can contribute an array of data for scientific studies and land management applications. This study used crowdsourcing to examine smartphone built-in GPS performance for providing location-specific information with potential forestry applications. The usability of smartphones for GPS data collection in forestry studies or other practical applications is dependent on the level of accuracy required for those applications. A Smartphone Accuracy Trial was designed to test the GPS accuracy performance of current smartphones. Participants used the ArcGIS Field Maps application …

Analyzing Hubble Space Telescope Images Of Agn Host Galaxies With Keck Integral Field Spectra, Sebastian Contreras

Physics

In the center of most massive galaxies is a supermassive black hole (SMBH) with a mass that can range from millions to billions of solar masses. It has been observed that more massive SMBHs have a more massive host galaxy bulge, as evidenced by the larger bulge luminosity and stellar velocity dispersion, a correlation known as the BH mass - host-galaxy scaling relation. It suggests a close evolutionary connection between the growth of the SMBH and the growth of its host galaxy. If a SMBH develops an accretion disk to fuel an active galactic nucleus (AGN), it will emit radiation …

Unraveling The History Of Deforestation In The Amazon Rainforest With Statistical Modeling, Ryan Destefano

Master's Theses

The Amazon rainforest, a vital ecosystem of immense biodiversity and global climate significance, faces the ongoing threat of deforestation driven by agricultural expansion. This thesis employs remote sensing techniques, focusing on the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) derived from Landsat satellite imagery, to track land cover dynamics within the Amazon. The study examines historical land cover changes in current plantations in Peru and Brazil, regions where the exact timing of deforestation is uncertain. By analyzing EVI measurements dating back to 1984, inflection points indicative of deforestation events preceding plantation establishment are identified. Statistical modeling techniques, including spline fitting to analyze time …

Qwixx Strategies Using Simulation And Mcmc Methods, Joshua W. Blank

Master's Theses

This study explores optimal strategies for maximizing scores and winning in the popular dice game Qwixx, analyzing both single and multiplayer gameplay scenarios. Through extensive simulations, various strategies were tested and compared, including a scorebased approach that uses a formula tuned by MCMC random walks, and race-to-lock approaches which use absorbing Markov chain qualities of individual score sheet rows to find ways to lock rows as quickly as possible. Results indicate that employing a scorebased strategy, considering gap, count, position, skip, and likelihood scores, significantly improves performance in single player games, while move restrictions based on specific dice roll sums …

The Impact Of Video Assistant Referee (Var) On The English Premier League, Jack Kenyon Brown

Master's Theses

The aim of this study is to examine how the introduction of the Video Assisted Referee (VAR) system influenced the English Premier League (EPL). Since its implementation in the English Premier League in 2019, VAR has been a constant source of debate and controversy. Many studies have been done on the immediate impact of VAR on other elite professional soccer leagues, but the scope of results is very limited and due to be updated. The data for the ensuing analysis consists of 3800 matches played in the English Premier League during the five seasons before (14/15, 15/16, 16/17, 17/18, and …

Predicting Rheology Of Uv-Curable Nanoparticle Ink Components And Compositions For Inkjet Additive Manufacturing, Cameron D. Lutz

Master's Theses

Inkjet additive manufacturing is the next step toward ubiquitous manufacturing by enabling multi-material printing that can exhibit various mechanical, electronic, and thermal properties. These characteristics are realized in the careful formulation of the inks and their functional materials, but there are many constraints that need to be satisfied to allow optimal jetting performance and build quality when used in an inkjet 3-D printer. Previous research has addressed the desirable rheology characteristics to enable stable drop formation and how the metallic nanoparticles affect the viscosity of inks. The contending goals of increasing nanoparticle-loading to improve material deposition rates while trying to …

Semantic Structuring Of Digital Documents: Knowledge Graph Generation And Evaluation, Erik E. Luu

Master's Theses

In the era of total digitization of documents, navigating vast and heterogeneous data landscapes presents significant challenges for effective information retrieval, both for humans and digital agents. Traditional methods of knowledge organization often struggle to keep pace with evolving user demands, resulting in suboptimal outcomes such as information overload and disorganized data. This thesis presents a case study on a pipeline that leverages principles from cognitive science, graph theory, and semantic computing to generate semantically organized knowledge graphs. By evaluating a combination of different models, methodologies, and algorithms, the pipeline aims to enhance the organization and retrieval of digital documents. …

Representation Theory And Its Applications In Physics, Max Varverakis

Master's Theses

Representation theory, which encodes the elements of a group as linear operators on a vector space, has far-reaching implications in physics. Fundamental results in quantum physics emerge directly from the representations describing physical symmetries. We first examine the connections between specific representations and the principles of quantum mechanics. Then, we shift our focus to the braid group, which describes the algebraic structure of braids. We apply representations of the braid group to physical systems in order to investigate quasiparticles known as anyons. Finally, we obtain governing equations of anyonic systems to highlight the differences between braiding statistics and conventional Bose-Einstein/Fermi-Dirac …

Hyperbolic Groups And The Word Problem, David Wu

Master's Theses

Mikhail Gromov’s work on hyperbolic groups in the late 1980s contributed to the formation of geometric group theory as a distinct branch of mathematics. The creation of hyperbolic metric spaces showed it was possible to define a large class of hyperbolic groups entirely geometrically yet still be able to derive significant algebraic properties. The objectives of this thesis are to provide an introduction to geometric group theory through the lens of quasi-isometry and show how hyperbolic groups have solvable word problem. Also included is the Stability Theorem as an intermediary result for quasi-isometry invariance of hyperbolicity.

Hydrological Analysis Of Post-Fire Responses Within The Little Creek Watershed Of Swanton Pacific Ranch, Alexander Jeffrey Wiens

Master's Theses

Climate change and a growing wildland-urban interface are associated with an increase in the number and severity of wildfires. While severe wildfires do cause a costly and dangerous impact on the environment and the public, their after-effects comprise important subjects of study. In post-fire hydrologic studies, the reduced infiltration and plant cover that results from wildfires can commonly be associated with increased peakflows and erosion. Phenomena such as the flooding and debris flows in Montecito after the Thomas Fire in late 2017 can have important implications on infrastructure and human lives. Quantifying post-fire peak flows and flooding volumes has therefore …

A Screening Life Cycle Analysis Of One-Way And Reusable Crate Designs – Estimating Environmental Impacts Via Lca Software, Nicolas R. Corona

Master's Theses

A comparison analysis conducted via COMPASS life cycle analysis software has indicated that a one-way crate design, rather than a reusable crate design, is in fact the more environmentally friendly packaging system. These results can be interpreted differently, however, as the manufacturer of said crate designs must confirm what impact indicators they would like to reference as environmental goalposts. The conducted analysis provides insight into what the environmental impacts of each packaging system look like as packaging at all three system levels has been identified as a means of reducing environmental impacts globally. As such, the manufacturer of said crate …

Combining Cloud Architecting With Education, Sharon P. Pagidipati

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

I pursued the AWS Solutions Architect Professional Certification while applying my knowledge to build and revise technical solutions for an educational company known as EDFX.

Focused Led Sintering, Dylan Defazio, Nilav Maulik, Branden Majors, Michael Fontillas

Mechanical Engineering

This report provides a detailed overview of the final design of our light-emitting diode (LED) focusing system. Our system incorporates a converging lens and a specially designed "glass funnel," which acts as a thick fiber optic that narrows the light to a fine point through internal reflection. The glass components of our system are precisely housed in a part made using advanced computer-numeric controlled (CNC) Mill and CNC Lathe manufacturing processes. This ensures high precision and durability of the overall system. Our LED focusing system is designed with a 60-watt stage light. The decision to use a glass funnel as …

Assessing The Efficacy Of Hydraulic Pumping As A Remediation Method Of A Subsurface Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid Spill In Arroyo Grande, California, James M. Raney

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

The efficacy of hydraulic pumping as a remediation method of a petroleum, or Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) spill in Arroyo Grande, California will be assessed by determining aquifer properties, assessing the chemical properties of the contaminant, recovering the contaminant from the subsurface, and proposing alternative remediation techniques. Soil, groundwater and contaminant characteristics, cumulative volume of LNAPL skimming test data, pumping rates, and LNAPL thicknesses in wells installed within the contaminant plume were collected. Sediments around the LNAPL source are contaminated with hydrocarbons in the gas and diesel range. Pumping efficacy is expected to continue to decrease at the site, …

Santa Maria Climate Action Plan Recommendations: Building Energy And Transportation, Thomas Zimmerman, Elena Blewett

City and Regional Planning

The Santa Maria Climate Action Plan Recommendations addresses GHG emissions reduction for the largest sectors in the City of Santa Maria- Building Energy and Transportation. The project includes GHG forecasts and reduction targets from the City’s Draft 2020 Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report. The reduction targets are met through a series of actionable measures to help the City meet aggressive reduction targets by 2030 and 2045.

Accessible Real-Time Eye-Gaze Tracking For Neurocognitive Health Assessments, A Multimodal Web-Based Approach, Daniel C. Tisdale

Master's Theses

We introduce a novel integration of real-time, predictive eye-gaze tracking models into a multimodal dialogue system tailored for remote health assessments. This system is designed to be highly accessible requiring only a conventional webcam for video input along with minimal cursor interaction and utilizes engaging gaze-based tasks that can be performed directly in a web browser. We have crafted dynamic subsystems that capture high-quality data efficiently and maintain quality through instances of user attrition and incomplete calls. Additionally, these subsystems are designed with the foresight to allow for future re-analysis using improved predictive models, as well as enable the creation …

Comparison Between Galfit And Lenstronomy To Analyze The Host Galaxies Of Reverberation Mapped Active Galactic Nuclei, Samantha Kay Allen

Physics

Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are some of the brightest objects within our Universe. Most galaxies contain a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at their center, but not all are powered by active accretion which can form an AGN. Due to the conservation of angular momentum, dust and gas rotate around the SMBH to form a disk. The large gravitational potential energy from the SMBH is converted into heat through friction, which produces a hot and luminous source of light. As a result, the SMBH is unresolved. Through a technique known as reverberation mapping (RM), the mass of the SMBH has been …

Investigating The Relationship Between Single And Multiple Sersic Models Of Active Galaxies Using Galfit, Ellie H. Johnson

Physics

Supermassive Black Holes (SMBHs) can be found in the center of almost every galaxy, and in some cases, can form Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs). AGNs are some of the brightest objects in our observable Universe and are distinguished from quiescent galaxies by accretion onto the central SMBH, which forms a disk where the luminosity is produced. Reverberation mapping (RM) of broad-line AGNs determines the mass of the SMBH by resolving the gravitational sphere of influence of the BH ``in time". In this study, GALFIT is used to fit 2D analytic functions to existing Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images for 23 …

Identifying Ion-Scale Waves In Parker Solar Probe Sub-Alfvénic Intervals, Nicholas Henry Androski, Kristoff Paulson

Physics

Identification of coherent quasi-parallel ion-scale (1-32 Hz) wave activity in sub-Alfvénic regions of the solar wind observed by NASA's Parker Solar Probe during perihelion encounters 8 to 16. Wave activity is filtered computationally by coherency, circular polarization and propagation angle with respect to the mean magnetic field. Initial statistical results are presented with suggestions for future improvements and studies. A general overview of the heliosphere and the context of ion-cyclotron waves (an ion-scale wave) in the coronal heating problem. Along the way to identify ion-scale wave activity, tables of sub-Alfvénic intervals and current sheet crossings for encounters 8 to 16 …

Pain Points: Cluster Analysis In Chronic Pain Networks, Iris W. Ho

Master's Theses

Chronic pain is a pervasive health issue, affecting a significant portion of the population and posing complex challenges due to its diverse etiology and individualized impact. To address this complexity, there is a growing interest in grouping chronic pain patients based on their unique treatment needs. While various methodologies for patient grouping have emerged, leveraging graph-based approaches to produce and evaluate such groupings remains largely unexplored. Recent studies have shown promise in integrating knowledge graphs into exploring patient similarity across different biological domains, indicating potential avenues for research. Additionally, there is a growing interest in investigating patient similarity networks, highlighting …

Design And Implementation Of A Vision-Based Deep-Learning Protocol For Kinematic Feature Extraction With Application To Stroke Rehabilitation, Juan Diego Luna Inga

Master's Theses

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, affecting thousands of individuals annually and significantly impairing their mobility, independence, and quality of life. Traditional methods for assessing motor impairments are often costly and invasive, creating substantial barriers to effective rehabilitation. This thesis explores the use of DeepLabCut (DLC), a deep-learning-based pose estimation tool, to extract clinically meaningful kinematic features from video data of stroke survivors with upper-extremity (UE) impairments.

To conduct this investigation, a specialized protocol was developed to tailor DLC for analyzing movements characteristic of UE impairments in stroke survivors. This protocol was validated through comparative analysis using peak …

Performance Interference Detection For Cloud-Native Applications Using Unsupervised Machine Learning Models, Eli Bakshi

Master's Theses

Contemporary cloud-native applications frequently adopt the microservice architecture, where applications are deployed within multiple containers that run on cloud virtual machines (VMs). These applications are typically hosted on public cloud platforms, where VMs from multiple cloud subscribers compete for the same physical resources on a cloud server. When a cloud subscriber application running on a VM competes for shared physical resources from other applications running on the same VM or from other VMs co-located on the same cloud server, performance interference may occur when the performance of an application degrades due to shared resource contention. Detecting such interference is crucial …

Contrastive Filtering And Dual-Objective Supervised Learning For Novel Class Discovery In Document-Level Relation Extraction, Nicholas Hansen

Master's Theses

Relation extraction (RE) is a task within natural language processing focused on the classification of relationships between entities in a given text. Primary applications of RE can be seen in various contexts such as knowledge graph construction and question answering systems. Traditional approaches to RE tend towards the prediction of relationships between exactly two entity mentions in small text snippets. However, with the introduction of datasets such as DocRED, research in this niche has progressed into examining RE at the document-level. Document-level relation extraction (DocRE) disrupts conventional approaches as it inherently introduces the possibility of multiple mentions of each unique …

Using Plankton Edna To Estimate Whale Abundances Off The California Coast: Data Integration And Statistical Modeling, Katherine Chan

Master's Theses

Understanding marine mammal populations and how they are affected by human activity and ocean conditions is vital, especially in tracking population declines and monitoring endangered species. However, tracking marine mammal populations and their distribution is challenging due to difficulties in observation and costs. Using surrounding plankton environmental DNA (eDNA) has the potential to provide an indirect measure of monitoring cetacean abundances based on ecological associations. This project aims to apply statistical methods to assess the relationship of visual abundances of common species of baleen whales with amplicon sequence variants (ASV) of plankton eDNA samples from the NOAA-CalCOFI Ocean Genomics (NCOG) …

Morp: Monocular Orientation Regression Pipeline, Jacob Gunderson

Master's Theses

Orientation estimation of objects plays a pivotal role in robotics, self-driving cars, and augmented reality. Beyond mere position, accurately determining the orientation of objects is essential for constructing precise models of the physical world. While 2D object detection has made significant strides, the field of orientation estimation still faces several challenges. Our research addresses these hurdles by proposing an efficient pipeline which facilitates rapid creation of labeled training data and enables direct regression of object orientation from a single image. We start by creating a digital twin of a physical object using an iPhone, followed by generating synthetic images using …

Causal Inference Using Bayesian Network For Search And Rescue, Amanda Belden

Master's Theses

People who are considered missing have much higher probabilities of being found dead compared to those who are not considered missing in terms of Search and Rescue (SAR) missions. Dementia patients are incredibly likely to be declared missing, and in fact after removing those with dementia the probability of the mission being regarded as missing person case is only about 10%. Additionally, those who go missing are much more likely to be on private land than on protected areas such as forests and parks. These and similar associations can be represented and investigated using a Bayesian network that has been …

Recursive Marix Game Analysis: Optimal, Simplified, And Human Strategies In Brave Rats, William A. Medwid

Master's Theses

Brave Rats is a short game with simple rules, yet establishing a comprehensive strategy is very challenging without extensive computation. After explaining the rules, this paper begins by calculating the optimal strategy by recursively solving each turn’s Minimax strategy. It then provides summary statistics about the complex, branching Minimax solution. Next, we examine six other strategy models and evaluate their performance against each other. These models’ flaws highlight the key elements that contribute to the effectiveness of the Minimax strategy and offer insight into simpler strategies that human players could mimic. Finally, we analyze 123 games of human data collected …

Dehn's Problems And Geometric Group Theory, Noelle Labrie

Master's Theses

In 1911, mathematician Max Dehn posed three decision problems for finitely

presented groups that have remained central to the study of combinatorial

group theory. His work provided the foundation for geometric group theory,

which aims to analyze groups using the topological and geometric properties

of the spaces they act on. In this thesis, we study group actions on Cayley

graphs and the Farey tree. We prove that a group has a solvable word problem

if and only if its associated Cayley graph is constructible. Moreover, we prove

that a group is finitely generated if and only if it acts geometrically …